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Tanker Drivers Suspend Loading Over Lekki-Epe E-Call-Up Fee

By in News, Nigeria News

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has directed its members to halt the programming and loading of trucks destined for the Lekki-Epe Corridor from June 16, 2025, in protest against the recently introduced ₦12,500 E-call-up system by the Lagos State Government.

In an internal memo signed by its National President, Billy Gillis-Harry; and the National Secretary, Adedibu Aderibigbe, PETROAN criticised the fee as economically insensitive and far above the ₦2,500 per truck charge earlier proposed by industry stakeholders.

The association maintains that its proposed amount is more realistic in light of prevailing economic challenges.

Despite several engagements with the Lagos State Government and other authorities, PETROAN said no agreement had been reached, prompting the decision to suspend activities along the corridor until a “mutually agreeable resolution” is secured.

READ ALSO: Dangote Refinery Offers Marketers Free Delivery Of Petrol, Diesel

The association called on all zonal and state chairmen to enforce the directive and urged members to remain united while consultations with the state government continue. It also emphasized the need for a “fair and sustainable outcome” for industry operators and the public.

Royal Ascot ready for racing’s ‘biggest five days’

By in News, Sports News
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Frank Keogh
BBC Sport senior journalist

Royal Ascot starts on Tuesday with three top-level Group One races on the opening day kicking off the action in style.

Around 250,000 spectators are expected over five days for a meeting that mixes high-quality racing with summer fashion.

In the opening Queen Anne Stakes, Lead Artist is set to clash again with the three horses behind him in the Lockinge Stakes: Dancing Gemini, Rosallion and Notable Speech.

Top sprinters Asfoora and Believing head contenders in the King Charles III Stakes before the St James’s Palace Stakes sees a fascinating rematch between this year’s first two in the 2,000 Guineas – Ruling Court and Field Of Gold.

“It’s the biggest five days in our sport – our shop window, where it’s where you want to perform,” William Buick, rider of Notable Speech and Ruling Court, told BBC Sport.

“Everyone turns up at Royal Ascot in tip-top shape, they want to win and it makes it ultra, ultra competitive. So Royal Ascot, to us – it is the be-all and end-all.”

The weather is set fair for the week, with the going likely to be good to firm. King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be hoping for a Royal winner with Reaching High in the Ascot Stakes on Tuesday.

Ruling Court was ‘decisive winner’ at Newmarket

William Buick with Ruling Court at NewmarketPA

Field Of Gold went on to win the Irish Guineas after being a fast-finishing second at Newmarket to Ruling Court, who was a late withdrawal for theDerby at Epsom this month.

Buick feels the ground was softer than the official going description of good at Epsom. His mount will enjoy conditions at Ascot, with dry weather expected.

“He was never going to be able to run on his favourite ground at Epsom, which is fast ground. The call was made purely in the interest of the horse, nothing else. Royal Ascot should suit a lot better. The forecast looks like it’s in our favour,” he said.

Field Of Gold’s run at Newmarket, where he made late ground but could not catch the winner, saw jockey Kieran Shoemark lose his role as number one jockey for trainers John and Thady Gosden.

Colin Keane was aboard for the Irish triumph and has since been appointed retained rider for owners Juddmonte.

Despite the controversy, Buick felt his mount was a worthy victor and Shoemark will bounce back.

“I thought my fella just kept pulling out more. He possibly handled the track a little bit better than Field of Gold, and I thought on the day he was a decisive winner,” said the two-time champion jockey.

“I spoke to Kieran afterwards and he seems to have really taken it very well, and he’s riding plenty of winners. He’s going to put this behind him and he’s going to carry on and have a very, very good career.”

Buick, with 36 victories, is second behind Ryan Moore (85) and Frankie Dettori (81) – who is now based in the United States – among current jockeys for Royal Ascot wins.

And he would dearly love to be the week’s leading rider, having come close and even matched Moore with five wins in 2012 but missed out due to countback on placed horses.

Tuesday’s Royal Ascot schedule

14:30 Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) one mile

15:05 Coventry Stakes (Group 2) six furlongs

15:40 King Charles III Stakes (Group 1) five furlongs

16:20 St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1) one mile

17:00 Ascot Stakes (Class 2 handicap) two miles, four furlongs

17:35 Wolferton Stakes (Listed) one mile, two furlongs

Other Royal Ascot 2025 highlights

Wednesday: Aidan O’Brien, who has a record 91 Royal Ascot winners and has been the meeting’s leading trainer 13 times, will look to increase his haul in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. O’Brien saddles Los Angeles, who again faces Anmaat after just edging him out to win the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

Thursday: Ladies’ Day features the Gold Cup where Buick rides 2024 runner-up Trawlerman. Hewill not have to tackle retired two-time champion Kyprios but has another strong O’Brien opponent in Illinois.

Friday: Buick is looking forward to partnering the “hugely talented” Shadow of Light in the Commonwealth Cup. The day’s other Group One race, the Coronation Stakes, features in-form Zarigana for French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.

Royal Procession celebrates 200th anniversary

King Charles and Queen Camilla at Royal AscotPA

A tradition that began with King George IV in 1825 will celebrate its 200th anniversary.

The Royal Procession down the Berkshire track precedes the start of racing each day and King Charles III and Queen Camilla are again expected to attend.

They will hope to be celebrating success as racehorse owners with Reaching High, based with Willie Mullins – the first Irishman to train for the reigning monarch.

Reaching High was bred by the King’s late mother Queen Elizabeth II.

One of the chief dangers could be stablemate Poniros – owned by Brighton and Hove Albion supremo Tony Bloom – who was a 100-1 winner at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Related topics

  • Horse Racing

Expert Blames Benue Killings On Porous Borders, System Failures

By in News, Nigeria News
https://www.youtube.com/embed/gKjkktfrZ_Y

The killing of scores of people in Yelewata, Benue State, over the weekend has been linked to porous borders and systemic failures in Nigeria.

The killings have since sparked nationwide concerns over a breakdown of the country’s security architecture.

Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast show, The Morning Brief on Monday, the Managing Director of Beacon Security & Intelligence Limited, Kabiru Adamu, said the root problem lies in the failure to properly diagnose the challenge, adding that relevant actors should be held accountable.

READ ALSO: 17 Benue LGAs Were Under Siege, FG’s Efforts Reduced It To Three – Gov Alia

Adamu explained that Benue’s location at the intersection of Nasarawa and Taraba, two states grappling with their security troubles and their international border with Cameroon, increases its vulnerability to external threats and foreign intruders.

According to him, public security in Nigeria has become ineffective, as attackers continue to strike communities, killing dozens, and displacing hundreds, without consequence.

“Threat elements come in, they attack, they kill, sometimes over 100 people in one go. They are not arrested, not prosecuted. That deterrence element in our system is not functioning,” he said.

He further identified the presence of multiple violent groups and militiamen in the state. He warned that some of these groups have been co-opted into the public security architecture by politicians for personal but sinister objectives.

“There’s an absence of intelligence. To have 100 people killed in three days and no video, no voice recording, no evidence, we must admit that our public security system is failing,” Adamu emphasised.

He noted that while public security structures exist in Benue, such as the police, military, civil defence, the Department of State Service, and Operation Zenda, many of them are thinly spread, particularly in rural areas.

According to him, some local governments have fewer than 10 security personnel, a trend not unique to Benue but common nationwide.

“Benue may soon have four separate state-level security outfits, including the evolving Forest Security Guards,” he warned, adding that while numbers look adequate on paper, the real problem is accountability.

Paddy McGuinness breaks silence on Carlos Tevez humiliation and accuses him of ‘assault’

By in Entertainment News, News
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Paddy McGuinness has broken his silence after being on the wrong end of a Carlos Tevez masterclass during Sunday night’s Soccer Aid. The TV star and comedian battled on as England keeper but could not stop the former Manchester City striker from scoring as fans pondered if the former Argentine International had ‘forgotten it was a charity match.’

Fans at Old Trafford watched on as Tevez fired four goals in ten minutes past England keeper Paddy, putting a swift end to their 3-0 lead in the first half. Viewers at home joked Tevez was approaching the game with the ferocity of a Champions League final as he failed to slow down past the celebrities.

Taking to Instagram today, Paddy shared a hilarious snap of him and Tevez post-match. Tevez had a huge grin on his face as he and Paddy pointed fingers at each other.

The funnyman wrote alongside it: “Police are looking to contact this man in connection with an assault that took place in the Old Trafford area of Manchester last night.

“We urge members of the public not to approach him,” he joked.





Paddy’s teammates Robbie Keane and Wayne Rooney responded to the posts with laughing emojis.

Other fans offered supportive comments, as one said: “It was lovely watching the England ex players pass the ball forward to give the celebs a chance to score, but not Tevez, oh no. Think he forgot was the point of the match was. You did ya best buddy, keep your chin up,” they told Paddy.

“To be fair you did leave the goal open for him. Fair play trying to stop a world class striker,” added another. A third added: “Tevez thought he was still trying to keep West Ham up! He was SERIOUS!!! “






Tevez put his hand to his ear after being booed by the Man United fans in the crowd


Tevez put his hand to his ear after being booed by the Man United fans in the crowd
(
PA)

Paddy wasn’t the only one being riled by Tevez’s antics on the pitch. Angry Ginge slammed the forward in the changing room after the match, after spending the second half trying to mark him.

“Cheers Tevez. Tw*t,” fumed the Manchester United fan as he showed off a bleeding cut on his leg from the changing room.

Tevez, who played for Man United and Manchester City during his professional career, bagged four goals before Big Zuu grabbed his team’s winner.

In a bid to stop the legendary striker firing another in then et for the opposition, Angry Ginge bulldozed into Tevez sending him flying. as fans of the charity match watched on in shock. The forward then jumped up from the ground and appeared to lunge at the YouTube star before the pair parted ways.

Despite being on the losing end, Angry Ginge was named Man of the Match for his performance at the back, which included a spectacular goal line clearance.