Vanguard Nigeria

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has doubled the winners’ prize money for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) from $1 million to $2 million ahead of the final between Malawi and Cameroon. The latest increase comes as CAF continues to raise the financial rewards for the women’s competition, with the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco featuring 16 teams for the first time in the tournament’s history. Morocco is hosting the competition from July 25 to August 16. A year after

Directors of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the Northwest have called for stronger intelligence sharing and operational synergy to defeat terrorism, banditry and other security threats in the region. The call was made on Wednesday at the Northwest Conference of State Directors of Security (SDS), organised by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Katsina, with the theme: “Unite Against Terror.” The Katsina State Director of Security, Alhaji Alhassan Iliyasu, said the conferen

By Adesewa Adewale The Benue State Police Command has recovered a newborn baby allegedly taken from his mother at a healthcare facility in Gboko, with suspects arrested in connection with the incident. The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Peter Aondona, confirmed the recovery to journalists on Thursday, saying the baby was found in the early hours of the day. Aondona said the incident was initially reported at the A Division Police Station in Gboko before the case was

By Damilola Samuel The Federal Government has approved the procurement of 35 additional linear accelerators as part of efforts to improve access to cancer treatment across the country. The machines, expected to be procured between 2027 and 2029, will increase the country’s capacity to provide radiotherapy services to cancer patients. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed this in Abuja while receiving members of the Global Advisory Counci

…Calls for diplomatic review of expenses incurred by Pretoria By Dennis Agbo Former Enugu State House of Assembly member and former South-East spokesman for President Bola Tinubu, Denge Josef Onoh, has rejected a reported demand by the South African government for Nigeria to reimburse about R292 million ($18.5 million) in expenses allegedly incurred in repatriating foreign nationals. Onoh, in a statement issued from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, described the demand as a matter that shou

…Unveils digital platform for campaign mobilisation By Daniel Abia PORT HARCOURT — The Ogoni Diaspora Coalition, North America, has endorsed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Dr Gabriel Pidomson, ahead of the 2027 Rivers State governorship election. The coalition, comprising Ogoni indigenes in the United States and Canada, also unveiled a digital platform, gabrielpidomson.org, to support its mobilisation and advocacy activities ahead of the election.

…writes AGF, NSA to prosecute Senator Fadahunsi, Sheikh Jingir By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA— As the country prepares for the 2027 general elections, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday urged the federal government to decisively tackle the rising spate of hate speech. The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, who addressed a press conference at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, maintained that if unchecked, the situation could escalat

By Osundiji Sekinat India recorded the highest number of enforced removals from Canada in the first half of 2026, with 3,323 Indian nationals removed from the country, according to the latest statistics released by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The CBSA recorded a total of 10,607 enforced removals between January 1 and June 30, 2026, with India accounting for the largest share. Mexico followed with 1,573 removals, while Haiti recorded 431. The United States ranke

By Henry Obetta The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland and Founder of the Olokun Festival Foundation (OFF), Iba Gani Adams, on Thursday, described Ifa as more than a system of divination, saying it represents the spiritual wisdom and religious heritage of the Yoruba people. Adams said this while speaking at the 2026 Ifa Festival organised by the OFF in conjunction with the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) at Ogunlowo, Alagbole, Ogun State. The gathering attracted traditional rulers, OPC member

By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe The Gombe State Government has signed the contract agreement and formally handed over the sites for the remodelling and upgrading of the Gombe Emir’s Palace and Gombe Central Mosque to Datum Construction Nigeria Limited. The projects, being executed through the Joint Projects Development and Essential Social Services Agency (JPDA), are expected to be completed within six months. Speaking during the site handover ceremony in Gombe on Thursday, the Director-G

Others insist there is no alternative to governor By Haruna Aliyu, Birnin Kebbi BIRNIN KEBBI — The Kebbi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been divided over calls to endorse Governor Nasir Idris for a second term in office, with some prominent party stakeholders backing his continuity while the state leadership has rejected the move. The disagreement followed an endorsement of the governor by a group of PDP elders led by a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. I

Imo State Governor and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodinma, has urged voters in Osun State to shun violence and intimidation ahead of Saturday’s governorship election. Uzodinma made the appeal on Thursday while addressing supporters at the APC mega rally in the state, where he campaigned for the party’s candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO. The governor said the APC was committed to peaceful participation in the election and urged v

By Femi Bolaji JALINGO — Supporters of former Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, have expressed concern over the alleged silence of the Taraba State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on complaints arising from the party’s governorship primary. The development has reportedly generated tension within the party, with Sambo’s supporters calling for the resolution of outstanding grievances ahead of the 2027 general elections. Rather than leaving the party or

By Kingsley Omonobi The Theatre Command, Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, has launched Operation Clean Sweep IV, a coordinated offensive aimed at intensifying pressure on terrorists and armed criminal groups across the North-West. The operation is designed to disrupt terrorist networks, degrade their operational capabilities and prevent the infiltration and expansion of terrorist activities across communities in the region. The Media Information Officer of th

By Jeff Agbodo, Abakaliki The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has directed the Ministry of Transport to intensify enforcement against illegal motor parks and halt the activities of transport operators at unauthorised parks across Abakaliki metropolis. The directive was issued by the House Committee on Works and Transport during an oversight visit to the Ministry of Transport. The committee, led by its Chairman, Hon. Deacon Joseph Ununu, who represents Abakaliki South Constituency

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has directed Federal Controllers of Works across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to intensify supervision of federal road and bridge projects and strengthen engagement with stakeholders. Umahi also charged the controllers to improve communication with the public to ensure that Nigerians are adequately informed about ongoing and completed infrastructure projects in their respective states. The minister gave the directive on Tue

By Kingsley Omonobi The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to strengthening counterterrorism efforts, protecting civilians, upholding human rights and ensuring adherence to the rule of law. Disu made this known on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Washington, D.C., where he represented the Nigeria Police Force at the second United States-Nigeria Country of Particular Concern (CPC) Joint Working Group meeting.

…Labels bill most dangerous since 1999 By John Alechenu ABUJA — Human rights lawyer and activist, Chidi Odinkalu, has described the NGO Regulation Bill currently before the National Assembly as the most dangerous piece of legislation proposed in Nigeria since the return to democratic rule in 1999. The bill has passed first and second readings in the House of Representatives and is now before the House Committee on NGOs, which is scheduled to hold a public hearing in Abuja later this

The Debt Management Office (DMO), on behalf of the Federal Government, has announced an offer of three FGN bonds valued at N1.1 trillion for subscription at N1,000 per unit. According to a statement by the DMO on Thursday in Abuja the first offer is January 2035 FGN Bond valued at N250 billion (10-year re-opening), at interest rate of 22.60 per cent per annum. The second offer is an April 2037 FGN bond valued at N100 billion (20-year re-opening), at interest rate 16.2499 per cent per annum

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on all stakeholders in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election to ensure that voters are allowed to exercise their franchise freely and without intimidation. Obi made the call in a statement posted on his X platform on Thursday, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to maintain neutrality, professionalism and restraint