General news

• FCT getting better under Wike 50 years after creation – Tinubu

  18-07-2026 10:36 via vanguardngr.com
  
  President Bola Tinubu says the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, is changing for the better under the leadership of Nyesom Wike as its minister, 50 years after creation.Tinubu said this in Abuja on Friday night, during a special thanksgiving dinner to celebrate the successful inauguration of 31 projects across the FCT in 28 days.Represented by the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the president commended Wike and his team for all the sacrifices to ensure that the nation’s cap
  
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• Rapper Drake loses over N2bn bet after Argentina lost to Spain

  20-07-2026 13:10 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Canadian rapper Drake has lost a $1.5 million (more than N2 billion) bet after Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.The Grammy-winning artiste had backed Argentina to defeat Spain in Sunday’s final, placing the wager through betting platform Stake.
  Had Argentina won, the bet would have returned more than $5.1 million.Instead, Spain emerged champions after scoring the decisive goal in extra time to claim the World Cup trophy, leaving Drake’s multimillio
  
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• Enugu Gov’t to distribute agric inputs for 63,000 farmers

  20-07-2026 13:08 via vanguardngr.com
  
  …Approves extra 4,698 teachers for Smart Green Schools…Activates all isolation centres over Congo Ebola outbreakThe Enugu State Government will on Tuesday distribute farm inputs to 63,000 smallholder farmers across the state to boost agricultural production this farming season.The government also approved the employment of 4,698 additional teachers for its Smart Green Schools, while also directing the activation of all its isolation centres following the outbreak of the Ebola in t
  
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• Aston Villa sign £38m Joao Gomes from Wolves

  20-07-2026 13:02 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Aston Villa won the race to sign Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes from Wolves on Monday in a deal worth a reported £38 million ($51 million).Villa moved for Gomes after Chelsea agreed to sign England midfielder Morgan Rogers from Unai Emery’s side.The 25-year-old, who has won 10 caps for Brazil, was also a target for Atletico Madrid, but Villa convinced him to make the switch from Championship side Wolves.Gomes made 130 appearances for Wolves after signing from Flamengo in 2023, but was
  
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• Alleged money laundering: Ex-Warri Refinery MD Yisawu gets N500m bail

  20-07-2026 12:55 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Ikechukwu NnochiriThe Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, granted bail to the former Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, Jimoh Yisawu, to the tune of N500 million.The ruling came after the defendant pleaded not guilty to an eight-count money-laundering charge preferred by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against him.The defendant was arraigned on the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/361/2026, alleging that he committed offences c
  
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• Keir Starmer steps down as British PM

  20-07-2026 12:49 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Keir Starmer left Downing Street Monday, saying he was leaving Britain “stronger and fairer” as he stepped down as PM to make way for Andy Burnham.“I am confident that Britain is now stronger and fairer than it was two years ago,” Starmer told reporters in his farewell speech outside his No. 10 office in central London.“I go with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything that we have achieved,” he added, before heading to Buckingham Palace t
  
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• Iran says Spain World Cup win brought joy to critics of US, Israel

  20-07-2026 12:43 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Iran on Monday congratulated Spain on its victory in the World Cup, saying that it had brought happiness to people around the world who opposed the United States and Israel.On social media, the winning side appeared to have won support from people around the world thanks to the Spanish government’s condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza and Madrid’s criticism of the war in Iran.On the other hand, Israeli politicians and football fans had rallied for Argentina, whose Presiden
  
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• Alleged $2.63m money laundering: Court admits Miyetti Allah president to N2bn bail

  20-07-2026 12:43 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday admitted Bello Bodejo, the National President of Miyetti Allah Kauta Kore, to N2 billion bail with two sureties in the like sum.Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on Bodejo’s bail application, ordered that one of the sureties must present three years of tax clearance before the court and must reside in Abuja.Justice Ekwo also ordered that the second surety must have land worth N2 billion in Abuja.The judge equally ordered Bodejo to drop his internat
  
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• Teenager dies during Spain World Cup celebrations

  20-07-2026 12:29 via vanguardngr.com
  
  A teenager died and several people were injured during celebrations of Spain’s victory in the World Cup after a fountain onto collapsed in the west of the country, local authorities and media said on Monday.“The city hall of Ciudad Rodrigo expresses its sadness and presents its condolences for the death of a boy of 13,” the municipality said on a Facebook post.“What should have been a celebration of Spain’s team in the football World Cup turned into tragedy,”
  
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• Nigerian newspapers review: Superb Spain rule the world, overwhelm Argentina

  20-07-2026 12:12 via vanguardngr.com
  
  In today’s Nigerian newspapers review programme, Today in the News, Vanguard leads with Spain overwhelming Argentina to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.Another headline features Oyinlasola Badejo-Okunsanya winning the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election and pledging accountability.Vanguard reports that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said Nigeria’s petrol imports surged by 207 p
  
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• [Video] ‘Get me Nigerian passport,’ IShowSpeed jokes after meeting Seyi Tinubu, children at World Cup

  20-07-2026 12:10 via vanguardngr.com
  
  American online streamer Darren Watkins Jr., popularly known as IShowSpeed, shared a light-hearted moment with Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, and his children during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday.A video from the streamer’s livestream showed Seyi Tinubu, wearing a Spain jersey, seated in the VIP section of the stadium with his children and other family members as Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win the World Cup.
  “Tell your dad to get me a Nige
  
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• Oil eases after Iran says US contacts continue through mediators

  20-07-2026 11:31 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Oil scaled back gains after hitting its highest price in a month on Monday as Iran said diplomatic exchanges with the United States were ongoing via mediators despite renewed conflict in the Middle East.Crude has surged over the past week as Washington and Tehran traded fire, raising fears of a sustained disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries around a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil.Both Brent crude and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate extended their gains after
  
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• PFIPC: How fake agency got smuggled into budget — Adeniyi

  20-07-2026 11:30 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Dapo AkinrefonThe self-styled Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, Prince Adeyemi Matthew Adeniyi, has explained how the fake organisation was captured in the Federal Government’s budget despite his arrest before the appropriation process was concluded.Adeniyi made the claims during an interview with social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, in a recording released shortly after his arrest.He said the c
  
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• ‘Una go qualify?’ – Fans troll Super Eagles after ‘See you in 2030’ message to Spain

  20-07-2026 10:46 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Nigerian football fans have criticised the Super Eagles after the team’s official X account congratulated Spain on winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup while declaring, “See you in 2030.”The post, shared shortly after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time to lift the World Cup on Sunday, quickly attracted thousands of reactions, with many supporters questioning Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the next edition of the tournament.“Congratulations to Spain on wi
  
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• Portable challenges Terry G to boxing match

  20-07-2026 10:29 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has challenged veteran artiste Terry G to a boxing match, saying the bout would revive Terry G’s career.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Portable made the challenge on Sunday during an appearance on Channels Television’s ”Rubbin Minds”.“If I fight Terry G, people will remember him. I prefer facing fellow entertainers. I have no interest in fighting social media personalities, including VeryD
  
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• Iran hits out at Gulf neighbors as US presses on with strikes

  20-07-2026 10:13 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Washington and Tehran traded strikes on Monday as US deaths in the renewed fighting climbed to three and more ships came under attack in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.Oil prices surged to a one-month high as the United States and Iran tussled for control of the vital strait, with Brent crude rising above $91 a barrel — the highest price since June 11.Since the start of the war on February 28, Iran has struck back by targeting US allies and military assets in its own neighborhood, and by
  
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• Atiku queries Tinubu over suspicious N12.8trn service-wide vote

  20-07-2026 09:59 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Omeiza Ajayi, AbujaFormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of using the 2026 federal budget to bury trillions of naira in unaccountable spending, pointing to a dramatic surge in the Service-Wide Vote SWV that he says the government must now explain.The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress ADC said the SWV, a discretionary budget line, jumped from N638 billion in 2025 to N12.8 trillion this year, a nearly 1,918 per cent rise that he called o
  
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•  Plateau lawmakers in trouble over life pension bill

  20-07-2026 09:55 via vanguardngr.com
  
  • NLC, CSOs, reject proposal,plan siege on assemblyBy Golok Nanmwa, JOSA bill seeking to grant pensions and retirement benefits to former Speakers, Deputy Speakers, Principal Officers and members of the Plateau State House of Assembly has triggered widespread outrage, with the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, civil society organisations, CSOs, and concerned citizens describing the proposal as self-serving and insensitive amid the state’s economic and security challenges.Leaders of N
  
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• FULL list: World Cup all-time leading scorers

  20-07-2026 09:40 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Ayobami OkerindeFrance captain Kylian Mbappé has become the FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading scorer after ending the 2026 tournament with 22 goals.Mbappe scored 10 goals as the Les Bleus finished 4th after losing 6-4 to England in the third-place match.The French forward achieved the feat in only 22 World Cup appearances, compared with Messi’s 21 goals scored in 34 matches across six editions of the tournament.Former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who previously held the
  
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• 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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• FIFA live rankings: Spain rise to world no 1 after World Cup final victory

  20-07-2026 09:28 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Ayobami OkerindeSpain have moved to the top of FIFA’s unofficial live world rankings after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, with the latest live standings on the top football body’s website showing the new world champions leading the table with 1,995.88 points.The rankings, updated on Monday, are live calculations and remain unofficial until FIFA releases its next official Men’s World Ranking.The World Cup champions gained 30.27 ranking points follo
  
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• Police foil kidnap, cattle rustling attempts, rescue victim in Katsina

  20-07-2026 09:18 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The Police Command in Katsina State has foiled separate kidnapping and cattle rustling attempts in Funtua and Musawa Local Government Areas (LGAs), rescuing one kidnapped victim and recovering 15 rustled cows.The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Katsina.Aliyu said that in the latest operation, credible intelligence received on Sunday indicated that suspected armed bandits were moving rustled cattle across the bor
  
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• Declining manufacturing tax signals weakening industrial activity — Oye

  20-07-2026 09:14 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Yinka KolawoleThe Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics (AERE) has warned that the decline in manufacturing tax revenue in the first quarter of 2026 reflects weakening industrial activity, urging the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to implement far-reaching reforms to revive the productive sector.In a policy brief, Chairman of AERE, Dele Oye, acknowledged the Bank of Industry’s (BoI) record N644.9 billion loan disbursement in 2025 but argued that the i
  
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• ECOWAS approve Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline

  20-07-2026 09:07 via vanguardngr.com
  
  West African leaders on Sunday signed an agreement approving the construction of a gas pipeline linking Nigeria to Morocco at a summit of regional bloc ECOWAS in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown.The roughly 6,000-kilometre (3,700-mile) Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) will cross 13 countries along Africa’s Atlantic coast, carrying Nigerian gas to Morocco before connecting to the Maghreb-Europe pipeline.“We have already signed the West Africa-Morocco gas pipeline,” said
  
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• NACCIMA, China seal pact to boost manufacturing investment in Nigeria

  20-07-2026 09:01 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Yinka KolawoleThe Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China’s Linyi Wholesalers Federation and TTC Hydra Limited to strengthen bilateral trade and attract new Chinese investments into Nigeria’s manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.The agreement, signed at the NACCIMA Infrastructure Conference (INFRACON 2026) in Abuja, provides a framework for trade cooperatio
  
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• Stakeholders differ on CBN’s withdrawal from manufacturers’ intervention fund

  20-07-2026 08:48 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Yinka KolawoleIndustry stakeholders have expressed divergent views on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) withdrawal from direct intervention financing of the manufacturing sector.Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Chinyere Almona, said CBN’s exit has left manufacturers heavily dependent on commercial banks that are not structured to provide long-term industrial financing.According to her, withdrawing intervention financing without a
  
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• Don’t be fooled, states are not richer

  20-07-2026 08:43 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Dele Sobowale
  Most Nigerians are being fooled right now, as they often are, by the Federal Government; with regard to the monthly allocations to states. Unfortunately, because the hands of many of the State Governors are not clean, they are allowing the FG to blame them unjustly for overall poor performance. Granted, there are a few outstanding performers – Lagos, Abia, Adamawa and Zamfara – but the rest of them have little to show for the increased revenue allocations. The
  
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• Alert MFB grows assets to N50bn amid inflation, rising credit demand

  20-07-2026 08:34 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Babajide KomolafeAlert Microfinance Bank has recorded a 20-fold increase in total assets to N50 billion in three years, as rising inflation, naira depreciation and stronger demand for credit reshape Nigeria’s banking landscape.Speaking in a media interview, Group Chief Executive Officer of Alert Group, Mr. Olanrewaju Kazeem, said the bank’s growth was driven by a deliberate strategy focused on financial inclusion and nationwide expansion following the Central Bank of Nigeria
  
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• Future-ready skills will define Nigeria’s next economic leap — JMG

  20-07-2026 08:30 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Sebastine ObasiJMG, an integrated electro-mechanical solutions company, has called for stronger collaboration between government, industries, and educational institutions to equip young Nigerians with future-ready skills that will drive innovation, enhance employability, and accelerate sustainable economic growth.The call comes in commemoration of World Youth Skills Day 2026, celebrated annually, which highlights the importance of equipping young people with the technical, digital, arti
  
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• UBA Business Series: Investors identify Africa’s next billion-dollar opportunities

  20-07-2026 08:27 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Panelists at the just concluded UBA Business Series have indicated that financial inclusion, the creative economy, sports, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the sectors most likely to produce Africa’s next billion-dollar companies.The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, hosted its quarterly business series, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, innovators and business leaders to explore how customer insights and technology is shaping Africa’s next generation of hi
  
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