General news

• Lagos: Troops arrest 6 illegal bunkering suspects at Orile

  18-07-2026 23:42 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Kingsley OmonobiThe Nigerian Army, weekend, said that it’s troops of 65 Battalion have successfully dismantled a suspected illegal bunkering site in the Orile area of Lagos State, leading to the arrest of six suspects and the recovery of items linked to the illicit activity.Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations said, “The operation, conducted on 16 July 2026, followed credible intelligence on the activities of suspected economic saboteurs op
  
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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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• Inflation, policy inconsistency can destabilise economic reforms, analysts warn

  20-07-2026 08:22 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Peter EgwuatuAnalysts have warned that the rise in inflation, policy inconsistency, and volatile exchange rate, among other factors, can destabilise the ongoing economic reforms, which have started yielding fruits.However, the analysts stated that the Nigeria’s capital market is expected to maintain its positive momentum in the second half of 2026, supported by stronger macroeconomic fundamentals, banking sector recapitalisation, improved foreign exchange stability and the anticip
  
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• Banking, consumer goods stocks buoy stock market rebounds

  20-07-2026 08:18 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Peter EgwuatuThe stock market closed higher Week on Week, WoW, with the banking and consumer goods stocks being the toast of investors last week.The Financial services industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 2.006 billion  shares valued at N99.697 billion traded in 96,171 deals, thus contributing 71.17% and  54.63% to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively. The Consumer Goods Industry followed with 178.863 million shares worth N7.872 billion
  
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• Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, July 20, 2026

  20-07-2026 08:09 via vanguardngr.com
  
  The naira traded relatively stable against the United States dollar at the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) on Monday, July 20, 2026, while the parallel market continued to quote the greenback at a premium.Data from the official foreign exchange market showed the naira exchanging at about ₦1,379.64 per US dollar at the NFEM as of Monday morning. The official rate remains broadly in line with recent trading sessions, reflecting a relatively stable market despite sustained d
  
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• Senegal President Diomaye Faye elected new ECOWAS chairman

  20-07-2026 07:58 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been elected Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.Faye emerged as the new leader of the regional bloc during the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority held in Sierra Leone.He takes over from Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, who assumed the position in June 2025 following the completion of President Bola Tinubu’s tenure as chairman. Tinubu formally handed over leadership of the bloc to Bio during
  
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• Cucurella praises Spain’s ‘incredible’ defence after World Cup win

  20-07-2026 07:32 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Marc Cucurella hailed Spain’s “incredible” defence after they won their second World Cup on Sunday with a 1-0 victory against Argentina.Substitute Ferran Torres scored in the second period of extra-time as Spain finally broke down 10-man Argentina at the MetLife Stadium.Coach Luis de la Fuente’s team conceded just one goal in their eight games at the 2026 tournament — the fewest by any side in a World Cup-winning campaign.Belgium were the only team to breach their
  
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• Trump speaks to Canada PM at World Cup after wildfire threats

  20-07-2026 07:29 via vanguardngr.com
  
  President Donald Trump said he held talks Sunday at the World Cup final with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and called for damages over wildfires that have sent smoke across the northeast US.Trump threatened Canada with tariffs before Sunday’s match, which the smoke had threatened to disrupt.“I have a good relationship with Mark Carney, but you know, we got to stop the fires up there,” Trump told reporters after arriving back in Washington.“If we can help them, we&r
  
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• Trump lingers on stage to lap up World Cup spotlight

  20-07-2026 07:26 via vanguardngr.com
  
  US President Donald Trump grabbed a share of the spotlight at the World Cup final on Sunday, staying on stage with winners Spain as they lifted the trophy after beating Argentina.Despite being met by resounding boos as he walked on to the pitch with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Trump basked in the attention at the end of a tournament he has called “the most successful sporting event maybe in the history of the world.”Trump briefly lingered on stage as Infantino tried to lead him
  
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• NCAA, experts clash over 5% air ticket charge

  20-07-2026 05:30 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Dickson OmobolaStakeholders in the country’s aviation sector have deepened calls for a review of the sharing formula of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge/Cargo Sales Charge, TSC/CSC, saying the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, required a larger share of the revenue to upgrade air navigation infrastructure.This development comes as the NCAA expressed fears over the issue and warned that any reduction in its statutory allocation could weaken aviation safety oversight a
  
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• Agro exports crash 31% as port delays, pesticides trigger global rejections

  20-07-2026 05:28 via vanguardngr.com
  
  ***15 containers of hibiscus rejected in Mexico***48-hour cargo clearance stretches to three weeks in Nigeria
  By Cynthia AloNigeria’s agricultural exports suffered a sharp 31.2 per cent decline in the first quarter of 2026 (Q1’26) as prolonged port delays, excessive pesticide application, outdated chemical preservatives and failure to obtain required phytosanitary certification combined to trigger increasing rejection of the country’s farm produce in international ma
  
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• Superb Spain rule the world, overwhelm Argentina

  20-07-2026 05:23 via vanguardngr.com
  
  Spain finally broke Argentina’s dogged resistance in extra time to win the men’s World Cup for the second time with a 1-0 victory.The Barcelona winger Ferran Torres scored the only goal of a disjointed game that was almost ruined by Argentina’s deliberate spoiling tactics, which backfired when they were reduced to 10 men for extra time by the late dismissal of Enzo Fernández for two yellow cards. Spain had dominated throughout, having 20 shots to an extraordinary two fr
  
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• Petrol imports rose by 207% in June – NMDPRA

  20-07-2026 05:09 via vanguardngr.com
  
  By Obas Esiedesa, AbujaNigeria’s petrol imports surged by 207 per cent in June 2026, reversing earlier gains recorded in domestic refining as local supply declined sharply, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).An analysis of the authority’s monthly petrol supply data for the first six months of 2026 showed that while domestic refineries remained the major source of supply for most of the period, imports increased signif
  
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• One year after the Tax Reform Laws: Tinubu’s economic foresight is taking shape

  20-07-2026 04:35 via vanguardngr.com
  
  How President Tinubu’s bold reforms and Dr. Zacch Adedeji’s leadership at the Nigeria Revenue Service are driving record revenue growth and building a more resilient economy.By Arabinrin AderonkeOne year ago, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, signed Nigeria’s landmark tax reform laws. At the time, many Nigerians wondered whether the reforms would make any real difference. Today, one year later, the answer is becoming clear. The reforms are not only changing how Nigeria raises
  
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