The elderly and children, especially those in primary and secondary schools bear the brunt of the ineptitude of the government in tackling the perennial issues of flooding which has drove many out of their homes, stranded the elderly who happened to be too weak to outrun the ravaging flood, and prevented children from going to schools.

Findings by Nationaldailyng.com shows that residents living in or around estates like Warewa commonly called Wawa, Isheri Riverview and Opic, Mokore, Arigbede, Banku are mostly hit by this recent surge in flood.

Residents living around these areas who spoke with Nationaldailyng.com claimed they were the worst hit by the flood because it practically submerged their homes, perhaps because of their proximity to the ocean and Lagoon.

While some residents of the affected areas have resorted to helping themselves, some have simply taken advantage of the situation; seeing it as a quick means of business venture.

For instance, a 2-minute journey to and fro their houses cost between N300 and N500 for canoe ride in some parts of Wawa.

Meanwhile, while the canoe ride is for those who could still manage to stay in their houses, those that the flood did not get inside but outside their houses; the flood practically sacked some others, who managed to take a few of their belongings and move out of the area.

This is particularly challenging for older people who struggle to regulate their body temperatures, especially if they are on medication. It is even worse for the hundreds of children, despite their age, who had stopped going to school due to the floods.

Nationaldailyng.com also gathered that for families who had young children who had to go to school, the situation had been hellish, while families, whose houses had been flooded and could not afford hotel costs, had to remain in their water-logged houses.

Alhaji Akeem Ismaila, 70 whose community borders OPIC along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, escaped the floods with his family, but he couldn’t move very quickly.

Many older people like Alhaji Ismaila feel like they are a burden on their families. Hundreds of others like him have been abandoned, and yet to get any respite from the government as more rains pummeled them.

The man, looking miserable and lost, said he lost all his money, home, crops, animals and food.

“Suddenly, one night, when almost all the residents had retired to bed, the flood level surged high and penetrated houses, streets and everywhere and almost submerged us as individuals,” he explained.

“Before the floods, we were busy farming and earned a decent living, but now, we have lost everything except our lives,” he said. “We are depressed and really worried about our losses.”

Ismaila said he has contracted hepatitis from the muddy water and has been unable to access the medication he needs.

His story isn’t unique. Many older people who were forced to stand in water for a long time now have respiratory problems, including asthma, even if they previously did not suffer from these conditions.

Many community leaders in the affected areas blamed the release of accumulated waters from Oyan Dam, situated in Abeokuta North local government area of Ogun State and heavy rains.

But Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, water resources and sanitation, Joseph Utsev, said the recurring floods in Ogun and Lagos were caused by climate change and not the Oyan Dam water release.

Utsev, who disclosed this during a visit to some affected communities in Lagos and Ogun, dams are crucial in flood management and irrigated agriculture, adding that the federal government has developed a comprehensive strategy to better manage flooding nationwide.

According to him, Oyan Dam, boasting of a significant 270 million-cubic-metre capacity reservoir, remains in excellent condition and should not be held accountable for the recent flooding incidents.

Also during a visit to affected communities, Ogun state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said flash floods were responsible for the flood, noting that the rainfall in the state is expected  to reach 3,646mm of rainfall between April and November this year.

However, the residents who spoke with Nationaldailyng.com faulted the arguments, noting that the dam failed to release water at the appropriate time of the year due to its commercialisation and the cage fishing activities going on in the dam.

Speaking on the aegis of the Isheri North GRA Community Development Association, the residents said it was unfortunate that the minister could make such “unguided utterances” without a proper assessment of the situation.

The residents said that while the management of the Ogun Osun River Basin Development Authority had in a document issued in September 2022 agreed that commercial fishing activities could be confined to levels below 56m above sea level, it had refused to implement this agreement.

According to them, the dam was not designed for industrial fishing but for recreational purposes, adding that the Ogun State government never issued any recreational and/or industrial fishing licenses to the companies at the dam.

The residents asked why their lives and property must be put at risk to satisfy the commercial interests of some individuals.

“Why should private enterprises with zero investment in the construction of Oyan Dam be allowed to use the reservoir in such a way as to defeat one of the priority purposes, that is flood control, for which the dam was built?” they asked in a statement.

According to another senior citizen who lives around Kosefe, along Keu, it was his Area’s Rescue Team that came to rescue him and his family at midnight when the flood came, choking them above the bed level.

“The flood had been there quite alright and we have been managing to meander through it, back and forth, thinking that before it could get worse, it would have either lessened or the government would have urgently come to our rescue, especially on the Canals in my area.

“Since, we don’t have extra money to move to a better part, we simply look for ways to manage this Natural crisis whenever it comes up. I just came around now to monitor the level and from what I see before me right now, it is a bit high. I will have to go back to Ogba, an axis of Lagos where we temporarily moved to.”

According to the Chairman of the Isheri Estate Community, Mr Gbenga Osobu, three persons have died since the flood began, adding that 48 families had been resettled within the estate.

The ISECOM chairman also said, “The worth of properties here are in billions of naira. Businesses have been killed here; no commercial activities like before in the last 13 days, we look like a ghost town deserted by people.”

Meanwhile, the management of the dam had absolved itself of blame, saying water would always find its path, and that when water was released to protect the integrity of the dam, the release would inevitably affect houses on the flood plain.

Osobu debunked comments that the area was along flood plain, stating that the estate, especially Isheri North, was conceived when the President, Bola Tinubu, was the governor of Lagos State.

He stated, “These lands were properly allocated, building plans were approved and Certificates of Occupancy or Governor’s consent was obtained for people to build there, except we have some other natural challenges that would prevent people from living here, because some people have lived here for 15 to 16 years.”

He further described the flooding as a combination of natural and man-made factors, which he said could be resolved.

[NationalDaily]

The aviation industry plays a crucial role in Nigeria's economic development, connecting the country to the global market and facilitating trade and tourism. However, the industry's heavy reliance on fossil fuel has raised concerns about its environmental impact and long-term sustainability. In recent years, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has emerged as a potential game changer, offering a greener alternative to traditional jet A1 fuel. It is important at this very challenging period of Nigeria’s economic quagmire for both the public and private sectors to collaborate in the exploration of the future of SAF and its potential implications for Nigeria's aviation industry and future economic development, particularly in light of the country's vast availability of oil palm trees and the oil palm belt.

Oil palm grows in about 28 states in Nigeria. The states of Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Bayelsa are the states with the highest number of oil palm

The future of sustainable aviation fuel holds great promise for Nigeria's aviation industry and future economic development. With the country's abundant oil palm trees and the presence of the oil palm belt, Nigeria has the potential to become a major producer of SAF. By shifting towards SAF, Nigeria can reduce its dependence on fossil oil, mitigate environmental concerns, and position itself as a leader in sustainable aviation.

Additionally, some of the short, medium and long term benefits of SAF to the overall economy and climate change of Nigeria include but are not limited to the following;

First, environmental sustainability:
The aviation industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. By transitioning to SAF, Nigeria's aviation industry can significantly reduce its carbon pollution footprint. SAF has lower levels of pollutants and particulate matter emissions compared to conventional jet fuels. This can lead to improved air quality around airports and in surrounding communities, reducing the negative health impacts associated with air pollution.
SAF is produced from renewable sources such as oil palm, which has a lower carbon intensity compared to fossil oil. This shift would align with global efforts to combat climate change and position Nigeria as an environmentally responsible nation.

Secondly, there are considerable economic opportunities:
Nigeria's vast availability of oil palm trees and plantations presents a unique opportunity for the country to become a major producer of SAF. By investing in the production and refining of SAF, Nigeria can create new economic opportunities, generate employment, and attract foreign investment. The demand for SAF is expected to increase in the coming years, providing a lucrative market for Nigeria to tap into.

Thirdly, energy security:
Nigeria's heavy dependence on fossil oil for its aviation industry poses risks to its energy security. Fluctuating oil prices and geopolitical tensions, as recently witnessed as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the Israeli- Palestinian conflict in the Middle East can disrupt the supply chain and impact the industry's operations. By diversifying its energy sources and embracing SAF, Nigeria can enhance its energy security and reduce its vulnerability to external factors.

Fifthly, there is a case for technological innovation: The adoption of SAF in Nigeria can drive technological innovation and research in the renewable energy sector. This can lead to advancements in biofuel production techniques, feedstock cultivation, and conversion technologies, which can have broader applications beyond aviation.

Lastly, there would be opportunities for international collaboration:
The use of SAF aligns with global sustainability goals and can enhance Nigeria's international reputation as a responsible and environmentally conscious nation. It can facilitate collaboration with other countries, organizations, and airlines that are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and promoting sustainable aviation.

Though Nigeria would not be blazing a new trail in the use of SAF, as there are already a few examples of countries and airline carriers that have resorted and converted to the use of SAL. But it would one of the pioneering countries to embrace the technology.

Just on Friday, October 27, 2023, the Reuters news agency reported that the Indonesian airline launched its first use of palm oil- blended jet fuel to operate a flight. The prospect of the use of this cleaner source of aviation fuel is quite a welcome development in the industry.

Other airlines and countries that use SAF are:
The United Airlines Case:
In 2020, United Airlines became the first U.S. carrier to make a long-term commitment to SAF. The airline signed a deal to purchase one billion gallons of SAF over the next decade. This demonstrates the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel and the potential for Nigeria to tap into this market.

The Success of Brazil:
Brazil has successfully implemented a biofuel program, utilizing its vast sugarcane resources to produce ethanol for aviation. This has not only reduced the country's carbon emissions but also created a thriving biofuel industry. Nigeria can draw inspiration from Brazil's success and leverage its oil palm resources to replicate a similar model.

The future of sustainable aviation fuel holds immense potential for Nigeria and indeed Africa’s aviation industry. By capitalizing on the country's abundant oil palm trees and the oil palm belt, Nigeria can become a major producer and exporter of SAF, reducing its dependence on fossil oil and mitigating environmental concerns. The shift towards SAF would not only position Nigeria as an environmentally responsible nation but also create new economic opportunities and enhance energy security. It is imperative for Nigeria to embrace this game-changing technology and pave the way for a sustainable and prosperous future.
This initiative should not be left alone to the federal government of Nigeria, but to the research institutes like NIFOR, Petroleum University and other universities, and the private sector.

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately address the economic hardship currently bedeviling the nation.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its President General, Goodluck Ibem, the coalition disclosed that since the 2023 presidential election litigations are over, it is time for the president to concentrate on finding solutions to the present economic crisis.

COSEYL argued that the plague of hunger has taken over the entire nation following some unfavorable policies of the current administration.

The coalition further lamented the continuous free fall of naira which has affected the prices of goods and services.

“The cozy environment of the Aso Rock Villa does not change the reality on ground in our markets.

“President Tinubu must, as a matter of urgency, address the high cost of goods and services in the country by bringing on board proactive economic measures that will bring the naira back to its feet.

“The president must act fast to save Nigerians from the present predicaments that Nigerians are currently facing”, the statement added.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has revealed that the ongoing quick-fix project at the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited, KRPC, will be back on stream by the end of 2024.

The Minister disclosed this during an inspection tour of Kaduna Refinery & Petrochemicals while assessing the progress of work on the ongoing quick-fix project of the Refinery in Kaduna on Saturday.

He was accompanied on the inspection by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari; NNPC Limited’s Executive Vice President, Downstream, Adedapo Segun; Executive Vice President, Upstream, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan; Managing Directors of the three refineries; and a host of other members of the Committee.

The inspection tour was preceded by the 14th Refineries Rehabilitation Steering Committee Meeting.

Lokpobiri said he is confident that the refinery will be restreamed by the end of 2024, considering the “significant level of progress” he has witnessed on the tour.

The Minister, who observed that he would continue to hold key players involved in the rehabilitation process of the nation’s refineries accountable, also pledged the Federal Government’s support in ensuring the timely delivery of the project.

According to the Minister, there is an urgent need to get the refinery back on stream for the nation’s economic prosperity and energy security, which are both paths to sustainable development.

Earlier in his remarks, Kyari, reassured the Minister that the fuel plant at the refinery will be delivered by the end of 2024.

Kyari said that all hands are on deck to bring the refinery back on stream, stressing that the contractor has since mobilized to the site and the needed equipment for the quick-fix activities is already in place.

“We are very confident that we will get the appropriate financing to get to the end of it, and ultimately, we will start to deliver value to Nigerians again.

“We plan the quick fix for 60,000 barrels per day so that we can start making money from this plant and we can continue the other part of the refinery to bring it up to its full-fledged capacity.

“This will also tally with the completion of the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) on the pipeline so as to have a reliable pipeline delivery infrastructure,” the GCEO stated.

The Kaduna Refinery was commissioned in 1980 to supply petroleum products to Northern Nigeria with a capacity of 50,000 Barrels Per Day.

In 1983, the capacity was expanded to 100,000 BPD by adding a second 50,000 BPD crude train dedicated to the production of lubricating oils (lubes).

In 1986, the capacity of the first crude train was expanded to 60,000 B/D. The expansions have increased the current nameplate capacity of the refinery to 110,000 B/D

The Kano State House of Assembly has approved Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf’s request to access a loan of N4 billion from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for the completion of Tiga and Challawa Hydro-electric power project.

The approval followed the adoption of a motion by Leader of the House, Lawan Hussaini (NNPP- Dala) at plenary.

Presenting the motion, Hussaini said that the loan has a single-digit interest and therefore not harmful to the economy of the state.

He said that the project when completed would help in revving ailing industries in the state.

The Tiga Independent Power Plant project was initiated by the administration of the former Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, to generate 35MW, using Challawa and Tiga dams.

Gov Abdullahi Ganduje who came into power in 2015 continued with the project.

Kabir-Yusuf had sent a letter of request to the house seeking for its approval which was read by the Speaker, Ismail Falgore at plenary.

The governor said the loan would be used for the completion of the project aimed at boosting the economy of the state through reviving industries, irrigation farming and powering street lights around the city. (NAN)

At their summit in Nassau, The Bahamas, in 1985, the Commonwealth Heads of State and Governments (CHOGM) decided to establish an Eminent Persons Group to explore difficult dialogue with the Apartheid regime in South Africa. The EPG was to be led jointly by Australia’s former Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser and Nigeria’s former military ruler, Olusegun Obasanjo. Emeka Anyaoku, the Nigerian diplomat who would later serve with considerable distinction as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, headed the secretariat of the EPG.

In 1986, the Group undertook its first insertion into South Africa. In his memoirs, The Inside Story of the Modern Commonwealth, Chief Anyaoku narrates that the mission was underwritten by a bargain with the Apartheid regime that all persons whom it met would suffer no reprisals. However, in Cape Town, Chief Anyaoku recalls, Trevor Manuel, who was then one decade away from becoming Finance Minister in the post-liberation administration, ended up in a police cell the night after meeting with the delegation.

On the night of Trevor’s arrest, his lawyer called to notify Chief Anyaoku about the fate that had befallen his client. It was approaching midnight when Chief Anyaoku called Mr. van Heerden, the liaison between the delegation and the South African regime, to accuse them of breaching the understanding at the very heart of the mission. Mr. van Heerden promised to investigate. Less than one hour later, according to Chief Anyaoku, Mr. van Heerden called him back to confirm that Trevor Manuel was indeed detained in a police cell.

In response to Chief Anyaoku’s insistence that Trevor be promptly released, Mr. van Heerden volunteered that he would be granted bail overnight to appear “before Magistrate Court No. 13 the following morning.” According to Chief Anyaoku, “Mr. van Heerden then went on to tell me that, once the case was called, it would immediately be adjourned sine die…. I thereafter told him that I would make discreet use of the information he had given me. He interjected that I should please note that his ‘government and security services do not interfere with the judicial processes.’ I said, ‘of course, I know you don’t!’ and we both laughed.”

In a testament to Mr. van Heerden’s powers as a gifted clairvoyant, the court proceedings the following morning went exactly as he had predicted. His gods had engineered the courts.

Apartheid South Africa did not enjoy a monopoly on such gifts of judicial engineering. In November 1992, longtime trade Union leader Frederick Chiluba unseated independence ruler Kenneth Kaunda to emerge as the first president of a multi-party Zambia. His party was presciently named the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, MMD.

The year after President Chiluba’s ascent to power, the office of Chief Justice became vacant after the country’s first indigenous Chief Justice, Annel Musenga Silungwe, quit the office at the age of 57. To succeed him, Chiluba appointed Matthew Ngulube. At the time, Zambia’s judges were poorly paid, a legacy from the era of Kaunda’s one-party state. Chief Justice Ngulube quickly became a darling of the international conference circuit, travelling the world and delivering homilies on judicial independence.

As his second five-year term of office came to an end, President Chiluba contrived a plan to succeed himself. Armed with a judiciary which he believed to be in his pocket, Chiluba believed he could overcome a constitutionally imposed term limit and run for a third term. Zambians declined his move, turfing him out in 2001 in favour of a senior lawyer and Chiluba’s own former vice-president Levy Mwanawasa.

At the beginning of President Mwanawasa’s tenure, it emerged that Chief Justice Ngulube’s preferred habitation was in Chiluba’s pocket. Once there, he burrowed himself into the favours of the former president, festooning himself with choice goodies, which enabled him to afford an extraordinary mansion on the outskirts of the capital city, Lusaka, valued at the annual budget of major government departments. He also trousered a reported $168,000 to finance his tastes, including school fees for his children, in order to “buy his loyalty”. Decisions in all cases against Chiluba suddenly became fully engineered. When, for instance, the opposition sued Chiluba – suspected to have descended from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – over his nationality, the Chief Justice acted more like the president’s counsel than an impartial judge.

Zambia was not the only place where judges preached independence but failed to practice it. In Malawi, the government engineered judges with generous awards of sugar distribution quotas.

In Nigeria, the revolutionary decision by the Supreme Court in January 2020 to award the governor’s office in Imo State to a man who had been well beaten to fourth position in the election conducted the previous year was trailed a fortnight earlier by a grubby “man of god” with a nose for predicting only what the politicians pay him to.

Last year, as Zimbabwe headed towards elections conducted earlier this year, President Emerson Mnangagwa, overcome with unparalleled generosity, doled out $400,000 to each of the country’s judges claiming that it was a housing loan in a country in which a luxury home cost about 20 per cent of that sum or less. By coincidence, Priscilla Chigumba, chairperson of the electoral commission, which was to supervise the vote, just happened to also be a judge. The outcome was foregone.

Around Africa, the encounter with elective government has cratered assumptions about judicial integrity and independence. As a result, few are prepared these days to credit judges with virtues associated with Caesar’s wife. In many cases, judges now openly cavort with politicians and are unashamed about serving the interests of ruling parties rather than holding them to account. The consequences can be brutal.

In April 2020, Mali’s Constitutional Court overturned the results of more than two dozen parliamentary seats won by the opposition. Its decision to hand these seats over to the ruling party sparked an uprising that led to the government’s overthrow. When the court was busy robbing the opposition of its seats, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) looked complicitly on. After the uprising had been consummated in a coup, they got their institutional knickers in a proverbial twist, protesting the travails of non-existent democracy.

Judges who refuse to be so readily engineered can suffer intimidation. In Malawi, former president Peter Mutharika launched an unprecedented attack on the judiciary after the Supreme Court upheld a Constitutional Court decision annulling his re-election and ordering a re-run after finding the election to have been massively rigged. 

In what appeared to be an act of political reprisal, the president, himself a former law professor of considerable experience, moved to oust Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda and another senior justice, Edward Twea, by ordering them to take compulsory leave ending in retirement. Tens of thousands of Malawians, led by hundreds of lawyers, protested in support of the judges. On 14 June 2020, the High Court suspended the presidential order, staying the ouster of Nyirenda and Twea. The people of Malawi did the rest seeing off the forgettable tenure of Peter Mutharika in the re-run that ensued.

Some judges may even pay with their lives. Such was the tragic fate of Congolese judge Raphael Yanyi, who presided over the unprecedented corruption trial of Vital Kamerhe, the chief of staff to the president. On May 26, 2020, Judge Yanyi, who was supposed to be under close protection from a team of six specially-trained police officers, died suddenly. The police initially claimed that the judge died of a heart attack, “but an autopsy report revealed that he died from knife-like injuries to the head” or what the justice minister described as “the blows of sharp points or knife-like objects, which were thrust into his head.” Far from dying of natural causes, it was clear that Judge Yanyi had been murdered.

Wise judges work hard to avoid this fate with benefits. In the past, judicial greatness was calibrated in the currency of jurisprudence. Today, many of Nigeria’s senior judges prefer to measure their success in terms of propinquity to power and impunity by planting their children and intimates on the bench. That is the local currency of judicial engineering.

SOUTH AFRICA secured a hard-fought 12-11 victory over New Zealand last night to clinch a record fourth Rugby World Cup title in France.

Handre Pollard kicked four penalties to help the Springboks to the historic success against their bitter rivals at a rain-soaked Stade de France in Paris.

It was a nerve-wracking, edgy battle where defence ruled and the All Blacks lost captain Sam Cane to a first-half red card for a high tackle.

But South Africa prevailed to win a third successive knockout match in this tournament by a point and add to their titles in 1995, 2007 and 2019.

“The last three games have been quite tough, each one we have played has been a final and each one we have won by one point,” player of the match Pieter-Steph du Toit said in his post-match interview.

“As a team we like drama. It has helped us through the last few years, it shows the resilience of this team.

“We are honoured to play for the whole of South Africa and the Springboks. When we go back home it will be a warm welcome for us.”

The game drew a number of high-profile stars from other sports, including tennis stars Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic among the 80,000 spectators, and South Africa captain Siya Kolisi described how much this triumph meant to his people back home.

“Honestly, people who are not from South Africa don’t understand what this means for our country,” he said.

“It’s not just about the game on the field. Our country goes through such a lot. We are the hope they have.”

[NaijaTimes]

Jude Bellingham’s stunning double snatched Real Madrid a 2-1 comeback victory at Barcelona in his first La Liga Clasico on Saturday.

The England international, who has started his Madrid career in remarkable goalscoring form, unleashed a rocket into the top corner from distance after Ilkay Gundogan had sent hosts Barcelona ahead at the Olympic Stadium.

Bellingham then fired home a second in stoppage time to silence Barcelona fans and reach 10 goals in the top flight this season.

Barcelona hit the woodwork twice and had the better of the game but Bellingham, La Liga’s top goalscorer, is in unstoppable form and inevitably made his mark in his first Clasico.

Bellingham’s brace sent Madrid to the top of La Liga, ahead of Girona on goal difference, with both teams four points ahead of Barcelona in third.

The Catalans were boosted by the returns of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha from injury, with Xavi naming them on the bench, but Frenkie de Jong and Pedri did not recover in time.

His counterpart Carlo Ancelotti selected Ferland Mendy at left back over Eduardo Camavinga and Fran Garcia, once again deploying Bellingham in the number 10 role as he got his first taste of arguably the world’s biggest club football match.

However it was another midfielder playing for the first time in the Clasico who broke the deadlock — Barcelona’s summer arrival Gundogan.

The former Manchester City man was sharpest when Aurelien Tchouameni intercepted Ferran Torres’ pass, diverting it back into his own area.

Centre-back David Alaba tried to clear but was thoroughly unconvincing and Gundogan read his intentions, hopped onto the ball and swept past Kepa Arrizabalaga in the sixth minute.

– Post denies Barca –

Fermin Lopez, one of the emerging young Barcelona La Masia academy products who has broken into the first team, slapped a shot against the post after the intense Gavi pressed high to win the ball back.

Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger hammered wide from nearly 40 yards out as Madrid were held off by the hosts, with winger Vinicius Junior getting into tangles with Gavi and Ronald Araujo, deployed at right-back to try and shackle him.

Gavi, Gundogan and Lopez controlled the midfield, with Joao Cancelo’s more advanced position allowing Barcelona additional defensive security.

Barcelona struck the woodwork again when Inigo Martinez headed Lopez’s inch-perfect cross against the post early in the second half, with Arrizabalaga thwarting Araujo on the follow-up.

Madrid were reduced to long-range efforts but eventually one ripped into the net to level the score, with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved a Tchouameni piledriver but he could not keep out Bellingham’s blast, pulling Madrid level in a game they had struggled to find a foothold in.

With the game heading towards an unsatisfying draw for both sides, Bellingham intervened decisively — in the right place at the right time to shoot through Ter Stegen’s legs after Luka Modric diverted Dani Carvajal’s cross into his path.

[OpinionNigeria]