General news

• Local governance failure fuels insecurity— Tinubu 

  12-06-2026 10:54 via vanguardngr.com
  President Bola Tinubu says  the collapse of grassroots governance contributed significantly to Nigeria’s insecurity, stressing that effective local government administration remains critical to national development.Tinubu stated this on Friday in his Democracy Day address to the nation.The president said his administration had pursued financial autonomy for the country’s 774 local government councils to ensure democracy delivers tangible benefits to citizens at the grassroots.&
  
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• June 12: Tinubu hasn’t targeted oppositions, protesters  -  Aide defends president’s democratic records

  12-06-2026 14:55 via vanguardngr.com
  Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday defended the administration’s commitment to democratic freedoms and the protection of opposition voices, saying the government has neither curtailed civil liberties nor targeted critics.
  Speaking on Vanguard’s Politics Hub, Ajayi said the administration has upheld key democratic tenets, saying “Democracy guarantees freedom, freedom of choice, freedom of expression,” and
  
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• ‘Stop faulting outcome, elections are imperfect’ – Fashola tells opposition

  12-06-2026 14:49 via vanguardngr.com
  By Enitan AbdultawabFormer Lagos State governor and ex-Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola, has described elections as inherently imperfect exercises, urging Nigerians to recognise the complexities involved in conducting nationwide polls and to focus on strengthening democratic institutions beyond the electoral process.Fashola made the remarks on Friday while speaking at The Platform, a public policy forum held in Lagos as part of activities marking Democracy Day.According t
  
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• World Cup 2026: Donald Trump will not attend US opening game

  12-06-2026 14:41 via vanguardngr.com
  President Donald Trump will not attend the United States men’s national team’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Paraguay on Friday, according to World Cup Task Force CEO Andrew Giuliani.The announcement confirms earlier reports that Trump was not planning to be present for the fixture at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California.Instead, the U.S. government will be represented by senior officials, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Transportation Se
  
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• AI replaces Paul the Octopus for 2026 World Cup tips

  12-06-2026 14:39 via vanguardngr.com
  ChatGPT and Claude are betting on Spain. Le Chat from France’s Mistral reckons Les Bleus will clinch it. And China’s DeepSeek and Qwen have a fondness for Argentina.The 2026 World Cup is the first with widely available generative AI chatbots, and fans and researchers alike are turning to the systems in a bid to predict the final victors.This year’s fad for non-human answers recalls Paul the Octopus, the cephalopod who divined winning teams by eating from food containers marked
  
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• NCDMB equips 160 Kebbi, Zamfara youths with AI, data analytics skills

  12-06-2026 14:20 via vanguardngr.com
  The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has trained 160 youths from Kebbi and Zamfara states in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Analytics to boost their digital skills and employment prospects.Mr Luka Dalang, Programme Coordinator of RimaFin Consulting, said this in an interview withNewsmen on Friday in Kaduna at the end of the five-day training programme.Dalang said the participants, comprising unemployed youths and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, were
  
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• Mexico vs Xenophobia: Africans troll South Africa over migrant violence

  12-06-2026 14:20 via vanguardngr.com
  South Africa faced an unusual backlash from fellow African football fans after a 2-0 opening-match loss to Mexico at the World Cup, with social media trending more with jokes and taunts than the usual early-tournament solidarity seen among African nations.The match itself saw co-host Mexico beat South Africa 2-0, but the online reaction reflected wider tensions. Memes celebrating Mexican culture — sombreros, flags and playful name changes — were common, yet many posts carried a shar
  
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• Edo reopens schools shut over kidnap threats, cites improved security

  12-06-2026 14:20 via vanguardngr.com
  The Edo government has approved the reopening of schools in Akoko-Edo LGA, recently shut over security concerns, after intelligence reports indicated a plan to attack schools in the area.The approval is contained in a circular issued by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Enodolomwanyi Otamere, and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Friday.According to Otamere, the decision to reopen the schools was taken after a comprehensive review of the security s
  
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• World Cup 2026: Empty seats, ‘mandatory’ water breaks, other talking points from matchday 1

  12-06-2026 14:11 via vanguardngr.com
  The 2026 FIFA World Cup is only a few days old, but the tournament has already generated discussion both on and off the pitch.While fans have been treated to goals, drama and historic moments, concerns over stadium attendance, ticket pricing, disciplinary records and FIFA regulations have emerged as some of the biggest talking points of the competition’s opening stages.Empty seats raise attendance concernsOne of the most noticeable issues so far has been the sight of thousands of empty se
  
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• State Police Bill: A clause-by-clause breakdown and what it means for Nigeria

  12-06-2026 14:02 via vanguardngr.com
  By Gift Chapi-Odekina, AbujaAfter decades of debate, failed attempts, and mounting insecurity that has left Nigerians questioning the capacity of a centralised police force to police a country of over 200 million people spread across 36 states, the National Assembly has placed before the executive a landmark constitutional alteration bill — Bill No. 7 — formally titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to Provide for the Estab
  
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• Video: Sowore collapses after police tear-gassed Abuja protesters

  12-06-2026 14:01 via vanguardngr.com
  By Enitan AbdultawabHuman rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has reportedly collapsed and was subsequently taken to a hospital following a confrontation with the Nigerian police during a Democracy Day protest at Unity Fountain in Abuja.Witnesses at the scene alleged that Sowore collapsed after police operatives moved to disperse protesters gathered to demonstrate against insecurity, economic hardship and what they described as poor governance.The protest, which a
  
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• Let’s repeat 1993 credible election in 2027, Peter Obi requests on June 12

  12-06-2026 13:45 via vanguardngr.com
  By Henry UmoruPresidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, ahead of the 2027 polls, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to let the June 12 day celebration be a critical assessment of the nation’s political landscape by repeating the 1993 credible election next year.Writing on his X handle on Friday, the former Anambra State governor said, “Today, we are observing a day that should mean a lot to us as a people who cherish democratic principles. Every year on June 12
  
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• Betway Appoints Don Jazzy as Brand Ambassador for Nigeria

  12-06-2026 13:00 via vanguardngr.com
  Betway, a premier online sports betting and gaming brand, today announced award-winning music executive, entrepreneur and cultural icon Don Jazzy as its new brand ambassador in Nigeria.Widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential entertainment figures, Don Jazzy is a defining force in Nigerian popular culture. As founder of Mavin Records, he has shaped the careers of some of Africa’s biggest music stars while building a personal brand synonymous with confidence, creativity and
  
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• Shift from oversight to foresight critical for Nigeria’s economic transformation — Minister Enoh

  12-06-2026 12:53 via vanguardngr.com
  …​As CIoD chair, Eshiett seeks stronger corporate governance cultureBy Progress GodfreyABUJA – ​The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, has stated that Nigeria must transition from basic administrative oversight to strategic foresight to achieve its long-term economic transformation goals.​He stated this during the investiture of Mrs Rose Eshiett as the new Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria, A
  
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• UNICEF laments child malnutrition, anemia, stunting in Benue

  12-06-2026 12:46 via vanguardngr.com
  …seeks state funding as only 6.4% consume globally acceptable minimum dietBy Peter Duru, MakurdiThe United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the Benue state government to take ownership of nutrition interventions and commit adequate funding to tackle rising cases of child malnutrition, revealing that 25.5 percent of children under five years in the state are stunted while only 6.4 percent receive the recommended minimum acceptable diet.The call was made at a High-Level
  
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• January 2027’ll reveal FG’s failure to conduct security impact of new tax laws – Omole

  12-06-2026 12:35 via vanguardngr.com
  By Henry OduahSecurity consultant Charles Omole has knocked the Federal Government for what he described as the lack of a security impact assessment of the new tax laws.On 26 June 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed the four Tax Reform Bills into law. These laws include the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), the Nigeria Revenue Service Act (NRSA) and the Joint Revenue Board Act (JRBA).Dr Omole said on Friday, while speaking on the topic “Governance, Democracy
  
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• Borno reintegrates 720 ex-combatants, families into society

  12-06-2026 12:25 via vanguardngr.com
  By Ndahi Marama, MaiduguriMAIDUGURI — The Borno State Government has reintegrated 720 men, 992 spouses, and 2,050 children who had surrendered under its non-kinetic peacebuilding framework, popularly known as the “Borno Model.”The beneficiaries, described as Batch 9 low-risk and minor clients, were formally released during a ceremony at the Hajj Camp in Maiduguri after undergoing deradicalisation, disarmament, rehabilitation, and vocational training.According to officials, the
  
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• Why Nigeria Is Dancing to Opera Mini 

  12-06-2026 12:18 via vanguardngr.com
  For years, Opera Mini has been helping Nigerians get online. For many, it is tied to early mobile internet memories: browsing on limited bundles, reading blogs, chatting, downloading music, and finding ways to stay connected without spending too much. Now, thanks to Poco Lee and Seyi Vibez’s new track, “Opera Mini,” the browser’s name is showing up somewhere new: on the dancefloor. Debuting this past Friday, Poco Lee and Seyi Vibez’s infectious street-pop hit
  
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• ‘All of us of are migrants,’ pope says in Canary Islands

  12-06-2026 12:18 via vanguardngr.com
  Pope Leo XIV told migrants at a reception centre on the Spanish island of Tenerife on Friday that “all of us are migrants”, on the final day of a weeklong visit to Spain focused on the plight of irregular immigrants.Tenerife is one of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic, which have become a gateway for tens of thousands of irregular arrivals seeking a better life in Europe.The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics is concluding his trip with a call for more help for migra
  
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• Insecurity may shape 2027 elections, Adeniran warns

  12-06-2026 12:13 via vanguardngr.com
   Human rights activist, Mr Debo Adeniran, has warned that Nigeria’s persistent security challenges could significantly influence voter decisions in the 2027 general elections.Adeniran, President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) spoke on Friday in an interview withNewsmen in Lagos.He said many Nigerians remained concerned about insecurity across the country, despite ongoing efforts by government and security agencies to curb criminal activities.According to him,
  
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• Banditry, kidnapping threaten democracy, Kalejaye warns Tinubu

  12-06-2026 11:54 via vanguardngr.com
  ..says Tinubu must lead total war against terrorismBy James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Asiwaju Kunle Kalejaye, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on banditry, kidnapping and all forms of terrorism, warning that the worsening insecurity across the country poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s survival and democratic stability.Kalejaye, an Ibadan-based legal luminary and Chairman of Eagle FM, Ilese-Ijebu, made the call in
  
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• June 12 is Nigeria’s democratic bedrock — Obi

  12-06-2026 11:50 via vanguardngr.com
  Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has described June 12 as a defining symbol of Nigeria’s democratic journey, saying it represents both a painful history and the enduring strength of the people’s will.In a post shared on his Facebook page, Obi said the annual June 12 commemoration goes beyond remembrance, serving instead as a moment for national reflection on the state of Nigeria’s democracy and governance.He noted that each year, the day raises important questions about
  
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• Crime reporter shot dead in Mexico

  12-06-2026 11:39 via vanguardngr.com
  A Mexican crime reporter was shot dead on Thursday, according to the newspaper that employed him, marking the latest killing in one of the world’s most dangerous countries for the press.The eastern coastal state of Veracruz is plagued by drug violence and is considered a particularly high-risk region for journalists.Luis Angel Lopez Valdez had already received threats due to his reporting, and local authorities had taken measures to protect him, the Vanguardia newspaper said on social med
  
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• June 12: Civil society coalition protest against insecurity in Osun

  12-06-2026 11:18 via vanguardngr.com
  By Shina AbubakarThe coalition of civil societies in Osun State has commenced a protest against insecurity in the country as part of the celebration of June 12’s 33rd anniversary.The coalition, which includes OCSC, Take It Back movement, Coalition Against Insecurity and Bad Governance, FIWON, converged at Ayetoro area of the state capital and walked through Igbonna, Olonkoro, Old Garage, Oke-fia and Olaiya.The protesters were singing different solidarity songs to express their dissatisfac
  
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• Insecurity: Ogun Police crack down on vehicles with concealed, fake number plates

  12-06-2026 11:12 via vanguardngr.com
  By James OgunnaikeThe Ogun State Police Command has commenced a statewide enforcement operation against vehicles operating with covered, obscured, defaced, concealed, unauthorised, fake, or no registration number plates, as part of efforts to strengthen security and curb criminal activities across the state.The enforcement exercise, which follows a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, is aimed at preventing criminals from exploiting vehicle anonymity to perpetrate crimes and evade de
  
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• June 12: Nigerians bend, bleed but do not break – Tinubu

  12-06-2026 11:11 via vanguardngr.com
  President Bola Tinubu has said that Nigeria’s democratic journey has endured decades of trials, stressing that despite challenges, Nigerians have consistently shown resilience and an unbreakable spirit.In a June 12 Democracy Day message, Tinubu reflected on the country’s political history, noting that many doubted whether democracy would survive in Nigeria 27 years ago due to its diversity.“Fellow Nigerians, 27 years ago, many doubted democracy would survive here because of ou
  
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• Soludo names Onwualu pro-chancellor of Ojukwu Varsity

  12-06-2026 11:10 via vanguardngr.com
  By Vincent UjumaduAWKA — Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has inaugurated the eighth governing council of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), appointing Professor Peter Onwualu as Pro-Chancellor and chairman of the council.Other members of the governing council include Igwe Dr. Chris Oranu Chidume, Prof. O. J. Ogbuagu, Chief Christopher Ndubuisi, and retired Assistant Inspector General of Police Chris Ezike.Also on the council are the university’s pr
  
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• Tinubu renames Kaduna Petroleum Institute after Shehu Musa Yar’Adua

  12-06-2026 10:49 via vanguardngr.com
  President Bola Tinubu has announced the renaming and revitalisation of the Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, in honour of the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, describing him as one of the architects of modern democratic Nigeria.Speaking on the decision, Tinubu said Yar’Adua was being recognised for his vision of national partnership and his enduring contributions to Nigeria’s democratic evolution.“In recognition of his contributions, the Federal Government has app
  
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• Independence, democracy won — now prosperity must follow – Tinubu

  12-06-2026 10:27 via vanguardngr.com
  President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to embrace unity and shared responsibility in the ongoing task of nation-building, declaring that while earlier generations secured independence and democracy, the current generation must now focus on delivering prosperity.Speaking on the significance of June 12 in the country’s democratic journey, Tinubu reflected on the sacrifices of past generations, noting that Nigeria’s founding fathers laid the foundation of independence, while the
  
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• 13,000 terrorists neutralised in one year – Tinubu

  12-06-2026 10:26 via vanguardngr.com
  President Bola Tinubu says more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised in the past year as part of intensified efforts to combat insecurity across the country.The president stated this on Friday in his Democracy Day address to the nation.He said Nigeria had moved beyond routine military training exercises with international partners to more effective precision-targetting operations against terrorist groups.Tinubu recalled that a recent operation in Arege, Borno, successfully degraded a com
  
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