General news

• Enugu State Govt approves massive infrastructural, tourism projects

  20-07-2026 09:29 via vanguardngr.com
  
  …Approves 10.5km Igogoro-Amachara-Ikpamodo-Okpo-Amaada road project…1,000 housing units at Enugu Smart City, 18,000 mass housing units at Gateway Estate…Set to construct Ovu Lake Golf Resort at Akpawfu…Cable car with platforms at Okpatu, Awhum, and AwguIn another major push for infrastructural transformation, the Enugu State Government has approved the commencement of several projects cutting across roads, tourism, housing, and administrative infrastructure in variou
  
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• LASTMA opens physical complaint centre

  30-07-2026 12:47 via vanguardngr.com
  
  .receives 2,843 calls in 30 days via new toll-free lineBy Olasunkanmi AkoniThe Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, said its newly inaugurated toll-free hotline recorded 2,843 public engagements within the first 30 days of operation, as the agency moves to strengthen transparency and citizen engagement.The figures, covering June 28 to July 29, 2026, were released by the agency’s Digital Centre which manages the 3367 toll-free call centre.Breakdown of engagements, according to
  
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• Agusto & Co. and GCR Ratings Upgrade Globus Bank’s Credit Ratings

  30-07-2026 12:46 via vanguardngr.com
  
  LAGOS, NIGERIA — Globus Bank Limited, a national commercial bank in Nigeria, has secured credit rating upgrades from two of the industry’s leading agencies, reinforcing the Bank’s strengthening financial profile. Agusto & Co. has upgraded the Bank’s ratings to “A+” (Long Term) and “A1” (Short Term), from “A”, with a Stable Outlook. GCR Ratings (GCR) also upgraded the Bank’s national scale ratings to BBB+(NG) for the Long-Term
  
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• Chelsea sign France defender Lacroix from Crystal Palace

  30-07-2026 12:43 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Chelsea signed France defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace in a deal worth a reported £52 million ($69 million) on Thursday.Lacroix agreed a six-year contract with the Blues and will link up with his new club for their pre-season preparations.The 26-year-old has won seven caps for France and played for his country at the recent World Cup.“I am really happy to be part of this beautiful club. Everyone knows the legend of Chelsea, its tradition of winning, and to be a part of t
  
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• ‘We’ll marry beautiful ones, kill the rest’ — Terrorists threaten 176 woro captives

  30-07-2026 12:31 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Ibrahim Hassan-WuyoFamilies of no fewer than 176 persons abducted by terrorists in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State have renewed their appeal to the Federal and Kwara State governments to urgently secure the release of their loved ones after nearly six months in captivity.This came amidst allegations that the abductors threatened to marry the “beautiful” female captives and kill the others.The victims’ relatives said they had raised more than N155 million through
  
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• Pinnick defends FIFA’s plan to sell 20% W/Cup stake

  30-07-2026 12:20 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Dickson OmobolaFormer President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Amaju Pinnick, on Thursday, defended the Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s, FIFA’s, proposal to sell a 20 per cent stake in the World Cup and other competitions, saying the initiative should be judged on its merits.Pinnick, who is the deputy chairperson of the FIFA Men’s National Teams Competitions Committee, said Infantino had a track record of introducing reforms that
  
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• PDP, Aondoakaa, Alia trade blame over insecurity in Benue

  30-07-2026 12:04 via vanguardngr.com
  
  .as death toll sparks fresh political rowBy Peter Duru, MakurdiThe gruesome killing of at least about 22 persons in coordinated attacks on communities in Ugboju District of Otukpo Local Government Area, LGA, has triggered a fresh political row in Benue state, with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its governorship candidate, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, and Governor Hyacinth Alia exchanging sharp words over the worsening security situation.The attacks, which reportedly targeted Efeyi-U
  
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• Police probe conflicting accounts over dispatch rider’s death in Lagos

  30-07-2026 11:46 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Esther OnyegbulaThe Lagos State Police Command has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 32-year-old dispatch rider, Emmanuel Jegede, following conflicting accounts of how he lost control of his motorcycle and died along the Ikotun-Idimu Road in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.The tragic incident occurred at about 10 a.m. on Wednesday after the rider reportedly completed a delivery and was heading to another destination.While eyewitnesses a
  
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• Pope Leo: I think of myself more as the pope who happens to be American

  30-07-2026 11:35 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Pope Leo XIV has “great love” for the United States and what it stands for but doesn’t define himself as American, the Chicago-born pope told NBC in an interview.Leo, the first pope from the United States, spoke Wednesday night to the US broadcaster on the sidelines of a prayer event with music at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence.“I think of myself more as the pope who happens to be American. Not to belittle what it means to be an American,” said the pop
  
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• Peter Okoye apologises, calls out twin brother ‘Rudeboy’ over language saga

  30-07-2026 11:16 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Nigerian singer Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr P, has apologised for his controversial comments about Nigerian languages, saying his remarks were misunderstood and were never intended to disparage the country’s languages or culture.The former P-Square star came under criticism after responding to a social media user who asked whether his children, who speak French fluently, could also speak Igbo. In his response, Mr P questioned, “Who Naija language help?”, a remark that s
  
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• 2027: Quit if you can’t campaign for us, APC tells Tinubu’s ‘technocrats’

  30-07-2026 10:24 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Omeiza AjayiThe ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has warned political appointees serving in the government of President Bola Tinubu that they cannot hold political positions while claiming to be technocrats detached from partisan responsibilities, insisting that such appointees must be ready to mobilise support for the party or vacate their offices.APC national chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja when he received members of the Progressive Local
  
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• ‘Thunder’ Balogun’s legacy must not die – Son

  30-07-2026 10:23 via vanguardngr.com
  
  BY JACOB AJOMIt’s exactly 54 years today that one of Nigeria’s greatest footballers, Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun passed on in his sleep in Ibadan, western Nigeria (now Oyo state). His death, according to Kayode Balogun, one of the late footballer’s children remains a mystery. Notwithstanding, Kayode is calling on both the federal and Lagos state governments not to allow his father’s legacy to die with him.In a chat with this reporter, he recalled in graphic deta
  
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• Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle after five years

  30-07-2026 10:20 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Eddie Howe is leaving his role as Newcastle manager after five years at St James’ Park, the BBC and Sky reported on Thursday.The 48-year-old joined the Magpies in 2021 and won the League Cup final in March 2025 — the club’s first major trophy since 1969.Newcastle have been depleted by the departures of Sandro Tonali to Tottenham and England forward Anthony Gordon to Barcelona in recent weeks.The club lost 4-1 to Bristol City in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.AFP
  The post E
  
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• ‘We’re committed to increasing finance for Africa’ — CAF urges review of FIFA proposal

  30-07-2026 10:10 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced plans to review FIFA’s proposal to open the commercial operations of the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments to private investment.In a statement issued on Wednesday, CAF said its president, Patrice Motsepe, will meet with the Confederation’s Executive Committee next week to examine the proposal and determine Africa’s position.The African football body said its member associations would also have the opportunity
  
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• Living wage, 2027 elections: NLC rallies workers for tough battles ahead

  30-07-2026 10:08 via vanguardngr.com
  
  • Says fight for better Nigeria must be unwaveringBy Victor Ahiuma-YoungAs Nigeria inches closer to another round of national minimum wage negotiations and the 2027 general elections, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, is expanding its agenda beyond the familiar struggle for higher wages. It is positioning organised labour as a decisive political and social force capable of influencing not only workers’ welfare but also the direction of governance in Nigeria .At its 202
  
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• Apology: Team Nigeria Spelling Bee Story

  30-07-2026 10:00 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Vanguard Media Limited wishes to apologise for an editorial error in a story published on July 21, 2026, celebrating Team Nigeria’s achievement at the 2026 Spelling Bee World Cup. The report, titled “Nigerian Students Champions at 2025 Spelling Bee World Cup in China,” was inadvertently illustrated with an incorrect AI-edited image.Upon being notified of the error, we promptly removed the image and replaced it with the correct photograph approved by the complainants.We sincere
  
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• Troops foil kidnap attempts, rescue Zamfara polytechnic rector

  30-07-2026 09:49 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Idris Salisu, GusauTroops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have foiled multiple kidnap attempts and rescued the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State.The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lt.-Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement, saying the operation followed a distress call in the early hours of Tuesday over terrorist activities around Tsohon-Tasha Street in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.According to
  
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• FIFA proposal ‘an opportunity but not an obligation’ – Infantino

  30-07-2026 09:47 via vanguardngr.com
  
  FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that the proposed launch of a private subsidiary to exploit the commercial benefits of the World Cup was “an opportunity but not an obligation”.A proposal to sell stakes in FIFA’s major competitions sparked disbelief and outrage globally since it was revealed Tuesday, but Infantino defended the idea, saying too little of football’s commercial value reached the parts of the game that need it most.“FIFA Forward Enterpris
  
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• FESTAC Power Outage: EKEDP blames cable vandalism, transmission upgrades

  30-07-2026 09:46 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Uzoma MarvellousThe prolonged power outage affecting FESTAC Town, Amuwo Odofin and neighbouring communities is the result of ongoing transmission upgrades and persistent vandalism of underground electricity cables, Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDP) has said.
  In a statement yesterday, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, EKEDP, Abiola Aloba, said the supply disruption was caused mainly by improvement works at the national transmission level, with repeated cable vandalism wors
  
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• Ex-Kano LG chairman returns to tailoring after court ouster

  30-07-2026 09:35 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Former Kumbotso Local Government Chairman in Kano State, Abdullahi Gali Shitu, popularly known as Comrade Abdullahi Gali Basaf, has returned to tailoring full-time after losing his office through a court ruling, saying the trade offers greater stability than politics.Basaf, who served as Kumbotso chairman until March 2026, told Daily Trust that his decision was intended to send a message that politicians should have a sustainable trade and see politics as an opportunity for service rather than
  
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• TETFund cracks down on abandoned projects

  30-07-2026 09:32 via vanguardngr.com
  
  ….Bars defaulting institutions from 2027 fundingBy Joseph Erunke, AbujaThe Tertiary Education Trust Fund,TETFund, has wielded the big stick against beneficiary tertiary institutions that have failed to complete intervention projects.It also announced that institutions with lingering abandoned or delayed projects would be shut out of new project approvals under the 2027 intervention cycle.The tough stance was adopted by the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Fund as part of sweeping measures
  
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• How Nigeria secured $30bn Paris Club debt relief — Okonjo-Iweala

  30-07-2026 09:30 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday recounted how a deliberate communication strategy helped Nigeria secure the landmark $30 billion Paris Club debt relief during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
  Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke at the public presentation of ‘’The Pain and the Promise,’’ a new book by communications expert and public affairs analyst, Paul Nwabuikwu, said she was brought in from the World B
  
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• Wrong to assume all women sleep upward — Lafiaji-Okuneye, LASUED VC

  30-07-2026 09:28 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Elizabeth Osayande In this interview, Prof. Bidemi Bilikis Lafiaji-Okuneye shares her experience and the dynamics of being the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University of Education, LASUED, Ijanikin, Lagos.  She speaks on what it means to break the ceiling of patriarchy in administration and leadership. Exceprts.How can you describe being the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University of Education, LASUED?There is no tutelage; you can’t say this is how it
  
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• Saudi Arabia joins US in strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq

  30-07-2026 09:26 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Nkiruka Nnorom with agency reportSaudi Arabia and the US have carried out joint strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, in a potential escalation of the Middle East conflict.
  This came as Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency said at least four members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, were killed in the joint attack.
  US Central Command (Centcom) said the strikes were against “Iran-aligned terrorists that the IRGC directed to attack US forces and Saud
  
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• BTS pulls out of Grammys after Asian pop category introduction

  30-07-2026 09:23 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Global K-pop sensation BTS said Wednesday they will not submit their music for next year’s Grammy Awards, after the Recording Academy introduced a new Asian pop category criticised for restricting the success of regional artists.The South Korean megastars were widely tipped in the running for several of the Grammys’ top honours, including Album of the Year, after their comeback album, ARIRANG, became one of this year’s best-selling hits.But the seven-member group said they wou
  
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• Ikorodu air pollution: LASEPA reopens six companies after compliance deal, vows sustained enforcement

  30-07-2026 09:15 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Olasunkanmi AkoniThe Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has reopened six iron and steel manufacturing companies in Odogunyan, Ikorodu, after confirming they had addressed environmental violations that led to their closure.The agency unsealed the companies following a comprehensive compliance assessment, which verified that they had implemented corrective measures to meet environmental standards.The companies were sealed on Monday as part of LASEPA’s enforcement drive
  
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• Bende traditional rulers endorse Kalu for third term, reject zoning claims

  30-07-2026 09:12 via vanguardngr.com
  
  …Kalu pledges more quality representationBy Gift ChapiOdekinaThe Traditional Rulers Council of Bende South State Constituency (Ikwuisi) has thrown its weight behind the third-term bid of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, dismissing claims that the Bende Federal Constituency seat is subject to any zoning arrangement.The royal fathers made their position known during a meeting with the Deputy Speaker, led by the Chairman of the Council, Eze Uchendu Oko
  
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• Ondo Assembly Crisis: Why 21 aggrieved lawmakers want me sacked – Embattled Speaker

  30-07-2026 09:10 via vanguardngr.com
  
  …lt’s all about 2027, matter will soon be settled…He must go- 21 aggrieved lawmakers insistBy Dayo Johnson AkureThe Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, has attributed the move by 21 lawmakers seeking his removal to political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections.Oladiji broke his silence on Wednesday amid calls for his resignation or impeachment over allegations of financial misconduct involving about ₦44 million linked to the reor
  
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• IS claims killing of Taliban official in Afghanistan

  30-07-2026 09:04 via vanguardngr.com
  
  A regional branch of the Islamic State group has claimed a rare deadly attack on a Taliban official in northeastern Afghanistan, a monitoring group said.The head of the information and culture department in Badakhshan, Zabihullah Amiri, was shot dead Tuesday while en route to the provincial capital Faizabad.The Islamic State-Khorasan group — the chapter in Afghanistan and Pakistan — said Wednesday it carried out the attack.“The soldiers of the Caliphate targeted a commander fr
  
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• US military completes ‘heavy wave’ of retaliatory strikes on Iran

  30-07-2026 08:41 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The US military completed a “heavy wave of strikes” against Iran on Thursday in retaliation against Tehran targeting American bases in Jordan, as fighting intensified in the Middle East war after a nearly week-long pause.The reignited hostilities have drawn in the Islamic republic’s proxies, and appear to have dashed hopes of a quick return to negotiations between the foes.US President Donald Trump had vowed to hit Iran “hard” after Tehran launched missiles at Jord
  
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