General news

• Edo community denies allegations linking it to kidnapping

  29-07-2026 14:49 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Olelo Community in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo has rejected claims associating it with the recent spate of kidnapping incidents in the area.The Youth Coordinator, Mr Jolly Igharo, in a statement on behalf of the community made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday, said the allegations were misleading and unfairly damaging to the community’s reputation.According to Igharo, the community’s forest has been taken advantage of by outsiders who us
  
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• Fake agency: Head of service admits due diligence failure in recruitment waiver scandal

  29-07-2026 16:20 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Gift ChapiOdekinaThe Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, on Wednesday admitted before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the alleged creation of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) without legal backing that her office failed to carry out adequate due diligence before issuing key approvals.This is also as the committee uncovered what it descri
  
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• Nigeria risks missing demographic dividend without investing in youths — NPC

  29-07-2026 16:09 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Folarin KehindeThe Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Aminu Yusuf, has warned that Nigeria may fail to reap the benefits of its youthful population unless governments and other stakeholders significantly increase investments in education, healthcare, skills development, employment and youth empowerment.Yusuf gave the warning at the national commemoration of the 2026 World Population Day in Abuja, stressing that the country’s demographic advantage could become a b
  
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• Israel army strikes Gaza mosque, says used for Hamas ‘weapons storage’

  29-07-2026 16:08 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The Israeli military on Wednesday said it had struck a mosque in the Gaza Strip which it said had been used by Hamas as a weapons storage facility.AFP photos from Gaza City on Tuesday showed fire and a huge plume of smoke rising above tents housing displaced Gazans during a strike on the Al-Muttaqin Mosque.Palestinians could be seen combing through vast piles of rubble and debris in the aftermath of the attack.“Over the past week, the (Israeli military) struck and dismantled several Hamas
  
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• Nigeria set to benefit as Afreximbank launches $50,000 CANEX Create-thon for African creators

  29-07-2026 15:58 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Udeme AkpanNigeria’s fast-growing creative industry is set to receive a major boost following the launch of the CANEX Create-thon 2026, a $50,000 pan-African competition by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and technology firm Gebeya to support innovators in music, film and gaming.
  The initiative is expected to create new opportunities for Nigerian creators, with the country’s globally acclaimed music and film industries positioned to benefit from funding, digital tool
  
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• C’River LG workers storm governor’s office over 11 months’ unpaid salaries

  29-07-2026 15:57 via vanguardngr.com
  
  .within 2 weeks, you all will smile – SSGBy Ike Uchechukwu, CalabarNewly employed local government workers in Cross River State have staged a peaceful protest in Calabar over 11 months of unpaid salaries, urging Governor Bassey Otu to approve their enrolment on the state payroll.The protesters, drawn from local government areas across the state, defied a heavy downpour to march through major streets to the Governor’s Office, brandishing placards that read “We are suffering,&rd
  
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• C’River Assembly passes Bill to curb quackery in health sector

  29-07-2026 15:41 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABARThe Cross River State House of Assembly has passed a bill outlawing quackery in the state’s health sector, in a move lawmakers say will shield residents from unqualified practitioners and strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.The bill, titled “A Law to Prohibit Quackery Practices in the Health Sector of Cross River State, Establish the Health Monitoring Task Force, and for Other Related Matters,” was sponsored by the Deputy Leader of the Hou
  
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• Why we failed to produce fake PFIPC DG before Reps panel — IG

  29-07-2026 15:29 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Enitan AbdultawabThe Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has explained why the alleged self-acclaimed Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, was not produced before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the activities of the purported agency.The explanation was contained in a letter to the committee, which was read on Wednesday by the panel’s chairman, Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Platea
  
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• Troops rescue abducted soldier, civilian in Zamfara

  29-07-2026 15:28 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Kingsley OmonobiTroops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have rescued an abducted soldier and a civilian during a fighting patrol in Zamfara State.The Media Information Officer of the operation, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said the rescue took place on the morning of July 29, 2026, when troops deployed at Gwashi conducted a fighting patrol to a terrorists’ enclave in the area.According to him, the troops rescued Lance Corporal Basiru Labbo, who was a
  
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• Bus conductor to receive 10 strokes of cane for slapping passenger

  29-07-2026 15:28 via vanguardngr.com
  
  A Magistrate, Mr Ibrahim Emmanuel, on Wednesday, imposed 10 strokes of cane on a bus conductor, Abubakar Shehu, 20, for slapping a passenger over transportation fare.Delivering judgment in a case at the Kaduna Magistrates’ Court, Emmanuel held that the conductor should receive the strokes of cane after he pleaded guilty to the charge of assault.The magistrate said that the court was lenient with the convict because he did not waste the court’s time by his admission of guilt.He warne
  
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• Trump says US to hit Iran hard

  29-07-2026 15:27 via vanguardngr.com
  
  President Donald Trump vowed to hit back hard at Iran after it attacked US bases in Jordan on Wednesday, as the Middle East war reignited and once again drew in the Islamic republic’s proxies.The warning came after a short lull in the fighting that had spurred hopes of a return to negotiations appeared to draw to an end, sending oil prices jumping five percent over fears of disruptions to global supplies.On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia and the United States announced strikes on militant bases
  
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• Surveillance Aircraft: Makinde’ll replicate Oyo’s security model nationwide — APM

  29-07-2026 15:24 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Luminous JannamikeABUJA — The Allied People’s Movement, APM, on Wednesday said its presidential candidate and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, would replicate the state’s security model across Nigeria if elected in 2027, pointing to the acquisition of two surveillance aircraft as evidence of his approach to tackling insecurity.To the party, the newly acquired aircraft are more than security assets. It said they reflect a governing philosophy that places the protection of l
  
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• Osun election: SDP denies endorsing APC’s Oyebamiji, says adoption letter fake

  29-07-2026 15:10 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has denied reports that its Osun State chapter has collapsed its structure to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the Aug. 15, governorship election.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a factional Osun SDP Chairman, Mr Remi Omidire, had purportedly adopted  Oyebamiji for the poll, in a letter addressed to the APC State Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Lawal..Reacting to the development in a sta
  
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• Otti approves payment of first phase of Ngozi Nwosu’s medical bills

  29-07-2026 15:08 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Enitan AbdultawabAbia State Governor Alex Otti has approved the payment of the first phase of medical expenses for veteran Nollywood actress Ngozi Nwosu following her public appeal for financial assistance to undergo multiple surgeries.The 62-year-old actress, an indigene of Abia State, recently disclosed that she requires three surgeries and needs about ₦30 million to cover the cost of her treatment.The governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Tourism and Entertainment, Martins Ok
  
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• Army chief appoints GOCs for newly established divisions

  29-07-2026 15:01 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Kingsley OmonobiThe Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for the Nigerian Army’s newly established divisions following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the creation of four additional divisions.The appointments are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Army’s force structure, expand its operational footprint, enhance command and control, and improve its capacity to tackl
  
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• Deregistration judgment: Appeal Court verdict is victory for democracy — Accord

  29-07-2026 14:49 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Luminous JannamikeAccord Party on Wednesday hailed the Court of Appeal’s decision nullifying the Federal High Court judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deregister the party and four others, describing the appellate court’s verdict as “victory for democracy, rule of law and due process.”For Accord, the ruling was more than a courtroom victory. The party said it had preserved its place in Nigeria’s democratic process and prote
  
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• 10 countries with strongest military in Europe

  29-07-2026 14:36 via vanguardngr.com
  
  France has been ranked as the country with the strongest military in Europe in the 2026 Global Firepower (GFP) Military Strength Rankings.The annual Global Firepower Index assesses the military capabilities of countries using its Power Index (PwrIndx), which considers more than 60 factors, including manpower, air power, land and naval assets, logistics, financial resources, geography, and natural resources. A lower PwrIndx score indicates a stronger military.According to the 2026 rankings, Franc
  
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• BBNaija: ‘If you disobey me, there’ll be consequences’ – HoH Chimsom tells housemates

  29-07-2026 14:12 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Deborah OyekaleHead of House (HoH) in Big Brother Naija season 11, Chimsom Chuka, has warned his fellow housemates against disobeying his directives.During a conversation on Tuesday, he repeatedly stressed that every contestant willingly chose to participate in the show and must abide by the rules of the house.He said, “They did not beg you to audition; voluntary exit is an option and there would be consequences for disobeying the head of house.”The statement has sparked reaction
  
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• FIFA issues deadline to members over plan to sell $4 bn stake

  29-07-2026 13:59 via vanguardngr.com
  
  FIFA has told member associations they will each receive $40 million if they back a plan to sell stakes in major competitions — but they must sign up by September 19.The sport’s global governing body on Tuesday announced proposals to set up a commercial subsidiary to run events, including the World Cup, sparking a furious backlash.European football’s governing body UEFA said the World Cup was not an “asset to trade” while the Asian Football Confederation said it ha
  
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• Full list: US to discontinue visa services in Abuja, 24 other African cities

  29-07-2026 13:55 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Nkiruka NnoromThe United States has announced a major visa shake-up across Africa, with routine visa services at its embassy in Abuja and 24 other diplomatic posts set to be discontinued effective August 1, 2026.The US Department of State said the realignment to regional hubs was part of efforts aimed at strengthening national security, cutting government waste, and ensuring more uniform screening, vetting, and adjudication standards.According to a statement released by the State Department,
  
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• BBNaija: I want to be a gambit — Kamsy

  29-07-2026 13:53 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Enitan AbdultawabBig Brother Naija Season 11 housemate Kamsy has declared her interest in becoming one of this season’s “Gambits,” saying the opportunity guarantees her a place among the finalists, regardless of whether she walks away with the ₦160 million grand prize.While speaking during her diary session with Big Brother on Wednesday, Kamsy admitted she was initially disappointed after learning that the Gambit role comes with immunity until the finale but automatic
  
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• Mayorkun reunites with Davido on new song ‘B4 B4’

  29-07-2026 13:44 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Nigerian singer Mayorkun has reunited with Afrobeats superstar Davido on a new song, “B4 B4”, ahead of its release on July 31.Mayorkun announced the collaboration in a post on his verified Instagram page on Wednesday.The singer shared a promotional photograph of himself and Davido with the caption “New Music! This Friday! ‘B4 B4’ #Oriade.”The song is one of the tracks on Davido’s forthcoming album, “Oriadé”.The announcement has genera
  
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• Tinubu’s 3rd anniversary: Wike approves promotion of 3,592 FCT civil servants

  29-07-2026 13:39 via vanguardngr.com
  
  As part of the third anniversary of President Bola Tinubu, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has approved the promotion of 3,592 civil servants following the successful conclusion of the 2025 promotion exercise conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission.Recall that from June 8 to July 17, 2026, the FCT had witnessed commissioning and flag-off of over 30 projects to commemorate the third anniversary of President Tinubu.Chairman of the FCT Civil Service Commission, Emeka Eze
  
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• Makinde to unveil Oyo APM presidential, governorship campaign councils on Friday

  29-07-2026 13:34 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Adeola BadruOyo State Governor and the Allied People’s Movement (APM) presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, Seyi Makinde, will on Friday inaugurate the party’s Oyo State Presidential and Governorship Campaign Council as preparations intensified ahead of the polls.The inauguration is scheduled to take place in the conference room of the governor’s office.According to the campaign structure, the Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Boa
  
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• BBNaija: ‘Step up your game’ – Sheba mocks Tram’s ‘toasting’ skills

  29-07-2026 13:34 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Enitan AbdultawabBig Brother Naija Season 11 housemate Sheba has playfully criticised fellow housemate Tram’s flirting skills after revealing that she never realised he had been trying to woo her.The exchange came during a late-night conversation after Sheba disclosed that she is a single mother. Surprised by the revelation, Tram asked after seeing photos of her son, “So you have a kid?”“Yeah,” Sheba replied.Reacting with amusement, Tram said, “I have been
  
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• Mob killing: We beat UNIJOS student to recover missing phone – Suspects

  29-07-2026 13:14 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Golok Nanmwa, JosFour suspects arrested in connection with the gruesome killing of a University of Jos (UNIJOS) Political Science student, Ibrahim Mbaya, have admitted participating in the mob assault that led to his death, saying they beat him in a bid to recover a missing mobile phone allegedly stolen by the deceased.The suspects made the confessions on Tuesday while being paraded by the Plateau State Police Command in Jos.Mbaya, popularly known as “Ibee,” was allegedly torture
  
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• Fiscal vandalism: Atiku raises alarm over Nigeria’s N12.62tr debt profile

  29-07-2026 12:45 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Omeiza Ajayi, AbujaFormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised the alarm over Nigeria’s debt profile, describing the disclosure that the Federal Government exceeded its 2024 borrowing limit by N4.79 trillion, pushing fresh borrowing to N12.62 trillion, as fiscal vandalism and proof that the President Bola Tinubu administration has completely lost control of the nation’s finances.In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank
  
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• ‘My time with Brazil is over’ – Neymar retires from int’l football

  29-07-2026 12:32 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Enitan AbdultawabBrazilian football star Neymar Jr. has officially announced his retirement from international football, ending a 16-year career with the Seleção following the country’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The 34-year-old Santos forward made the announcement after his side’s 4-2 victory over Universidad Central in the second leg of the Copa Sudamericana knockout round playoffs, putting an end to speculation that he could make a return to the national t
  
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• English FA says ‘deeply concerned’ over FIFA plans

  29-07-2026 12:28 via vanguardngr.com
  
  England’s Football Association said Wednesday it was “deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance” after FIFA confirmed plans to sell stakes in its major competitions.The sport’s world governing body on Tuesday announced proposals to set up a commercial subsidiary to run events, which would reportedly have links to the extended family of US President Donald Trump.The announcement produced a furious backlash from European football’s governing body
  
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• ‘Hands off our game,’ EU tells FIFA over private investor plans

  29-07-2026 12:25 via vanguardngr.com
  
  EU sports chief Glenn Micallef on Wednesday hit out at FIFA’s plans to sell a stake in its competitions including the World Cup, warning international football’s governing body: “Hands off our game.”“The relentless commercialisation of football has become corrosive,” he said on X, adding: “Commercial success should strengthen football, not consume it.”FIFA plans to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup and its other competitions
  
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