General news

• Onoh defends Bianca Ojukwu’s Ethiopia prison visit

  15-06-2026 15:59 via vanguardngr.com
  …Responds to Ojudu’s CriticismBy Denis Agbo
  Former Southeast spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Josef Onoh, has responded to Babafemi Ojudu’s criticism of Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, over her recent visit to Nigerian inmates in an Ethiopian prison.A video circulating online showed the Minister interacting in a cheerful manner with the inmates, an action Ojudu questioned in a public statement.Onoh, who chairs the Forum of Former Members
  
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• FCMB Group’s profit rises 81% to N202bn 

  16-06-2026 08:23 via vanguardngr.com
  FCMB Group Plc has recorded an 81 per cent increase in its Profit Before Tax, PBT, which hit N202.1 billion in 2025 full financial year from N111.9 billion recorded in 2024.The company disclosed this in its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025 released yesterday alongside its unaudited results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.The company also recorded 142 per cent increase in profit after tax which increased to N177.3 billion, leading to improvement in R
  
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• FirstBank hits N1bn daily disbursement on FirstAdvance

  16-06-2026 08:20 via vanguardngr.com
  FirstBank Nigeria yesterday announced that FirstAdvance, its flagship salary backed digital loan product, has hit a milestone of N1 billion daily disbursement. The bank, in a statement, said that the feat underscores its commitment to delivering innovative, accessible, technology-driven financial service solutions to its customers.“FirstAdvance is a convenient loan offering for salary earners, that enables FirstBank customers to access short-term credit in less than one minute w
  
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• Nigeria must lead, not consume digital revolution — Galaxy Backbone 

  16-06-2026 08:16 via vanguardngr.com
  By Progress GodfreyGalaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), Nigeria’s information technology and shared services provider, has said that the country must take a leading role in shaping emerging technologies rather than consuming global innovations.The Managing Director of GBB, Professor Ibrahim Adeyanju, said this yesterday at a press conference in Abuja to kick off the company’s 20th anniversary celebrations, highlighting Nigeria’s readiness to lead Africa’s digital transfor
  
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• Kidnapped Kwara monarch dies in captivity after N18m ransom payment

  16-06-2026 08:15 via vanguardngr.com
  The traditional ruler of Olayinka community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Salman Aweda, who was kidnapped from his palace by terrorists on April 17, 2026, has been confirmed dead after payment of N18 million ransom, out of the N21 million demanded.
  It was also gathered that the community had bought two brand new motocycles and provided 100 litres of petrol demanded by the kidnappers, yet he was not released.
  It was learned that when community people sought to speak with
  
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• Nigerian student Kamdi Okeke, graduates Summa Cum Laude, wins $442,044 UPenn scholarship

  16-06-2026 08:08 via vanguardngr.com
  By Emma NnadozieKamdi Okeke, a 21-year-old Nigerian student, graduated summa cum laude from Drexel University on June 11, 2026, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering with a 3.95 GPA.His academic performance placed him among the top graduates in his programme and earned him first-class honours with the highest distinction.In addition to his academic record, Okeke achieved a score of 521 on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and built a strong profile through communit
  
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• Why I’ve not resumed as ambassador to Mexico — Reno Omokri

  16-06-2026 08:07 via vanguardngr.com
  Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has explained why he has yet to assume duties in his country of posting, attributing the delay to ongoing activities related to the World Cup being jointly hosted by Mexico and the United States.Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Omokri dismissed claims that the Mexican government had rejected him, describing such reports as opposition-driven narratives with no basis in reality.According to the former pr
  
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• Headline inflation rate in 3rd consecutive month rise, hits 15.93%

  16-06-2026 08:07 via vanguardngr.com
  By Progress GodfreyNigeria’s headline inflation rate has gone up again, the third consecutive month, in May 2026, hitting 15.93 percent.The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, announced the increase in its latest consumer price index (CPI) report released yesterday.The report stated: “On a year-on-year basis, the Headline inflation rate rose to 15.93%, up from 15.69% in April 2026 and down from 26.06% in the same month of the preceding year (May 2025).”“Looking at the mo
  
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• Pound to Naira exchange rate today, June 16, 2026

  16-06-2026 08:04 via vanguardngr.com
  The Nigerian naira traded mixed against the British pound sterling on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, across the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) and the parallel market.At the official market, the pound exchanged at approximately ₦1,849.50/£1, based on prevailing cross-currency rates derived from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s foreign exchange data and international currency market movements.Meanwhile, in the parallel market, also known as the black market, the British
  
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• Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, June 16, 2026

  16-06-2026 08:00 via vanguardngr.com
  The Nigerian naira traded relatively stable against the United States dollar on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at both the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) window and the parallel market.Latest data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) exchange rate portal showed that the naira closed at approximately ₦1,363.83 per dollar at the official NFEM window, maintaining the trend seen in recent trading sessions. The official market has continued to trade within the ₦1,360 range a
  
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• FG auctions Lagos hotel, 3 properties forfeited by drug lords at N6.1bn 

  16-06-2026 07:54 via vanguardngr.com
  By Kingsley OmonobiThe Federal Government has auctioned a Lagos hotel and three other properties seized from drug kingpins by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and forfeited to the agency, through court processes, for the sum of N6.148 billion. Director of Media and Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi, who made the disclosure yesterday, said: “This was the outcome of a competitive bid process for the sale of eight assets forfeited by drug barons in par
  
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• Atiku-Amaechi ticket will end Tinubu’s presidency in 2027 — Bolaji Abdullahi

  16-06-2026 07:49 via vanguardngr.com
  The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has expressed confidence that the party’s presidential ticket of Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi will defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Abdullahi described the Atiku-Amaechi combination as a formidable team capable of offering better leadership than the current administration and winning the next presidenti
  
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• I was drugged, forced to sleep with 30 men a day — Teenager 

  16-06-2026 07:43 via vanguardngr.com
  By Matthew JohnsonLAGOS—Emotions ran high at the Lagos State Police Command yesterday, when a 16-year-old girl, Chidinma, narrated how she was allegedly trafficked from Imo State to Lagos and forced into prostitution for four months, during which she was made to sleep with 30 men daily, beaten repeatedly, and denied payment.The teenager, who said she was originally learning baking in Imo State, told journalists that a woman she trusted lured her to Lagos with the promise of a job.Acc
  
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• SSDC Devt mandate: Nwuche tasks board members on accountability, teamwork 

  16-06-2026 07:38 via vanguardngr.com
  The Chairman of the Governing Board of the South-South Development Commission, SSDC, Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche has urged members of the Board and Management of the Commission to uphold the highest standards of accountability, prudence, transparency, integrity, and professionalism in managing the newly established regional development agency.Speaking at the Fourth Regular Meeting of the Governing Board of the Commission in Abuja, last week, Nwuche, a former Deputy Speaker of the House o
  
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• State police: We need constitutional safeguards against abuse —Shagari

  16-06-2026 07:34 via vanguardngr.com
  By Musa UbandawakiFormer Deputy Governor of Sokoto State and former Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Muktari Shagari, in this interview argues that Nigeria can no longer delay the creation of state police.
  He speaks on why the country urgently needs decentralized policing, how funding should be structured, the safeguards required to prevent abuse, and the role state police could play in tackling banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the federation among others.There
  
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• Naira down to N1,400/$ in parallel market

  16-06-2026 07:29 via vanguardngr.com
  By Elizabeth AdegbesanThe Naira yesterday depreciated to N1,400 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,390 per dollar last weekend.
  However, the naira appreciated to N1,356 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, NFEM.Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showed that the indicative exchange rate for the market fell to N1,356 per dollar from N1,365.4 per dollar last weekend, indicating N9.4 appreciation for the naira. 
  The post Naira down to N1,400/$ in parallel ma
  
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• Deregistration order: Atiku, Mark, Adeleke, fume over verdict, vow to be on ballot

  16-06-2026 07:24 via vanguardngr.com
  —Why court ordered INEC to deregister parties—You’re playing with fire, ADC warns Tinubu’s govt
  By Clifford Ndujihe, Dapo Akinrefon, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Omeiza Ajayi & Luminous JannamikeLAGOS — Leaders of African Democratic Congress, ADC; and Accord, yesterday picked holes in the ruling of a Federal High Court ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to de-register their parties and four other parties.While ADC said the All Progressive
  
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• Building Trust at Scale: PalmPay Joins Industry Leaders at Digital Pay Expo 2026

  16-06-2026 05:59 via vanguardngr.com
  As digital payment adoption continues to grow across Nigeria and emerging markets, the next phase will depend not just on innovation, but on the strength, reliability, and trustworthiness of the infrastructure behind it. While the ecosystem has made clear progress in recent years, trust remains a critical issue for users, businesses, and operators alike. Questions around resilience, security, interoperability and transaction reliability continue to shape how the market evolves and how conf
  
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• Actor Baba Ijesha announces birth of son

  16-06-2026 00:38 via vanguardngr.com
  Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has announced the birth of his son.The actor broke the news in an Instagram post on Monday, accompanied by maternity photographs featuring himself and his wife.Expressing gratitude to God for the new addition to his family, Baba Ijesha revealed his son’s name as King Kagar Omiyinka.He wrote, “In quiet ways, in unseen ways, God has been writing a story only He could tell. We thank the Almighty for blessing us with a
  
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• Eight people feared dead in B-52 plane crash – US military

  16-06-2026 00:24 via vanguardngr.com
  Eight people are feared to have died when a B-52 bomber crashed shortly after take-off in California on Monday, the US air force base where the accident happened said.“An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carrying eight people on a routine test mission crashed today shortly after take-off at 11.20 am (PDT). Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable,” said a statement from Edwards Air Force Base.AFP
  The post Eight people feared dead in B-52 plane crash – US military
  
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• No panic, says De la Fuente after Spain held by Cape Verde

  16-06-2026 00:20 via vanguardngr.com
  Spain boss Luis de la Fuente said he is still convinced La Roja will go far at the World Cup despite failing to break down debutants Cape Verde in a 0-0 draw to open their tournament.The European champions badly missed the spark of Lamine Yamal, who was deemed only fit enough for a second-half cameo on his return from injury, as they struggled to even create chances against a side ranked 67th in the world.“We are completely calm, convinced that there is a long way to go. As we see it, we
  
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• State police creation doesn’t mean abolition of NPF – IGP Disu

  16-06-2026 00:18 via vanguardngr.com
  The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Olatunji Disu, says the creation of the state police does not mean abolition of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).Disu stated this while addressing personnel of the police force on Monday in Dutse, Jigawa.He said the clarification was imperative to address concerns among officers and men of the force surrounding the creation of the state police.The I-G said the legislative development concerning the creation of the state police has generated considerable disc
  
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• Xenophobia: S’Africa intensifies crackdown on illegal immigration

  16-06-2026 00:15 via vanguardngr.com
  South Africa has intensified immigration enforcement nationwide, arresting more than 40,000 undocumented migrants this year as authorities tighten border controls and accelerate repatriations.The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, disclosed this during a media briefing in Pretoria.Kubayi said intelligence-led operations were ongoing at land, sea and air ports of entry to identify undocumented migrants and employers violating immigration laws.She said the crack
  
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• Ebola cases hit 782 as DRC outbreak worsens

  16-06-2026 00:12 via vanguardngr.com
  Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have risen to 782, including 178 deaths, as the outbreak spreads to two additional health zones, authorities said.The latest situation report showed that 72 new confirmed cases, including 29 deaths, were recorded in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.The newly affected health zones are Nia-Nia in Ituri and Mabalako in North Kivu, bringing the total to 31.A health zone is a local public health management unit responsible for surveill
  
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• Court refuses Sadiya Farouq’s request to set aside arrest warrant

  16-06-2026 00:09 via vanguardngr.com
  Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, on Monday dismissed an application filed by a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, seeking to set aside the bench warrant and warrant of arrest earlier issued against her.The judge ruled that Farouq failed to provide a valid reason for her absence from court and ruled that the law empowered the court to issue a bench warrant where a defendant deliberately fails to appear in a criminal
  
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• AFCON drama is behind us, says Senegal coach ahead of World Cup opener

  16-06-2026 00:01 via vanguardngr.com
  Senegal coach Pape Thiaw insisted Monday that the controversy of January’s Africa Cup of Nations final was firmly a thing of the past as his side focus on the World Cup and their opening opponents, France.“I am not going to go back over the AFCON, that’s behind us. This is the World Cup. We have prepared well for it and we are focused on tomorrow’s match,” Thiaw said of Tuesday’s Group I clash at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.It is almost exactly five mon
  
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• Belgium, Egypt draw 1-1 in World Cup group game

  15-06-2026 23:14 via vanguardngr.com
  Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1 in their World Cup opener on Monday after a second-half Belgian equalizer spoiled Mohamed Salah’s 34th birthday.Emam Ashour opened the scoring early in the first half in Seattle, before Romelu Lukaku came off the bench after the hour to force Egypt’s Mohamed Hany into an own goal.With the draw, seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt’s wait for a first victory at a World Cup goes on.This is their fourth participation in the global showpiece
  
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• Iran war saved Israel from threat of nuclear annihilation – Netanyahu

  15-06-2026 23:08 via vanguardngr.com
  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran had spared his country from what he described as the Islamic republic’s threat of “nuclear annihilation”.In his first public remarks since the United States and Iran announced an agreement in the early hours of Monday to end the Middle East war, Netanyahu also said that Israeli troops would remain in Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria for “as long as necessary”.Spea
  
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• England ready to take final step at World Cup – Saka

  15-06-2026 23:05 via vanguardngr.com
  Bukayo Saka says England have the “talent, passion and confidence” to finally win the World Cup after a series of agonising near-misses in major tournaments.The Arsenal winger was part of Gareth Southgate’s team that twice fell at the final hurdle in the European Championship and reached the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar in 2022.That came after a run to the semi-finals in Russia four years earlier.Saka was asked at England’s Kansas City training base on Monday what l
  
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• Ogun 2027: Iyabo Obasanjo returns to PDP, backs Adebutu

  15-06-2026 23:01 via vanguardngr.com
  By James OgunnaikeFormer Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, has formally returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), barely one week after she resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC).The daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo made her return known on Monday at the PDP Secretariat in Abeokuta, during the unveiling of Alhaja Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, former Group Business Editor of The PUNCH, as the party’s deputy governorship can
  
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