It’s two decades since the Boeing 737-200 operated by Bellview Airlines, carrying 111 passengers and six crew members, crashed into Lisa, a quiet community in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Like every other flight, the Boeing 737-200 aircraft took off from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, en route to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at exactly 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2005, with prominent Nigerians including the former Postmaster General of Nigeria, Mallam Argungu Abubakar; Director of Research and Documentation, Nigerian Press Council, Mr. Omang Ojang; and ECOWAS Director of Finance in Nigeria (a Ghanaian), Mr. Emmanuel Quaye, on board.
Others include the former Managing Director of the defunct Peoples Bank, Mrs. Maria Sokenu, and a traditional ruler of Daddare, Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, who doubles as Chairman, Board of Directors of the National Programme on Immunisation, Usman Umar, among others who never survived.
The flight, which had Captain Imasuen Lambert as its pilot, was at first declared missing but was later found wrecked in the community about 50 kilometres (31 miles; 27 nmi) from Lagos.
Following the tragedy, the Nigerian government, in collaboration with Ogun State, built a memorial arcade and garden to honour the departed.
It was named Lisa Memorial Arcade, with the remains of the victims, whose bodies were crushed by the crash’s impact, interred like in a cemetery, with their names boldly written on their tombstones.
DAILY POST reported that former Ogun Governor Gbenga Daniel, through the state’s Road Maintenance Agency (OGROMA), also constructed the link roads to the arcade, making access to the gravesite easy for families and mourners.
However, with years of neglect and lack of maintenance, the 10.5-kilometre access road from Ijoko has become deplorable and impassable, especially during the rainy seasons.
The access road lasted for just six months – Onilisa of Lisa
The Onilisa of Lisa, Oba Oladele Najeem Odugbemi, Ayelodun I, told DAILY POST that the access road, which served 17 communities, lasted for just six months, blaming the contractors for doing a bad job.
The monarch, while applauding former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo for giving the victims good memorial recognition, disclosed that it brought recognition to the community, as the arcade ground became a tourist site with different schools visiting for excursions.
Meanwhile, he bemoaned that the vibrant arcade’s glory was short-lived, as it is now overrun with bushes and ravaged by decrepit roads.
The monarch said, “The contractor who handled that road project from Ijoko to the crash site, which is 10.5 km, did not do a good job. We only enjoyed that road for six months, let’s say a year, and after a year, we tried to face the challenges of the road.
“Unfortunately, both the arcade and the road have become so terrible now. The whole arcade has become completely dilapidated. You can’t see anything there other than bushes; the road from Ijoko is now completely worse than what it used to be.
“At the initial stage, when they inaugurated the place in 2007, there were so many schools that came here for excursions within and outside Ogun State. Individuals and the families of the victims also came here to have prayers, especially on the anniversary day. Some would stay till after the anniversary. They came from as far as Benue, the South-South, and the Northern part of the country. Some white people used to come, but they stopped coming about 14–15 years ago.”
Oba Odugbemi argued that aside from killing the economic value of the community, the road has become a death trap, causing residents to flee, leaving their houses behind.
“So many people tried to live with us and develop some buildings in our community when the road was constructed, but they are now packing out because the road is so bad. The economy of our community has gone down. During the rain, okada riders fall into the gutters and pits. We’ve had deaths due to the bad state of the road.”
Please reconstruct and maintain the arcade like the United States’ Ground Zero
The monarch appealed for the reconstruction and proper maintenance of the arcade, saying it is supposed to represent the only aviation tourist centre in Africa, citing the United States’ Ground Zero as an example.
Oba Odugbemi noted that despite several pleas and letters written to the federal and state governments, all fell on deaf ears.
“I’ve written so many times to Abuja, even to Ogun State, not only to the incumbent governor but also the former governor, Ibikunle Amosun. The arcade should be reconstructed because that arcade is supposed to be like what happened in the United States during the 9/11 situation. I’ve visited the United States after 9/11, and they call the place Ground Zero. It has become a tourist centre. That is the same replica of what happened in Lisa; they are supposed to use it as a tourist centre in Africa.
“My appeal to the federal and state governments is to restore that arcade and bring back the lost glory so that the memories of these victims will continue to be happy with all of us who are living.”
Families of victims abandon memorial arcade, connect with deceased through phone – Ataese of Lisa
The Ataese of Lisa, Akinsola Akinwale, revealed that throughout the past ten years, roughly four families of the departed have discontinued visiting due to the poor condition of the road.
“I will not forget the family members, about four of them in the last one decade, that used to come in the past but have ceased to come owing to the bad state of the road, and it’s so worrisome. Most times when I call them, because I have contacts of about four, they all say the place is not accessible and are keeping their loved ones in the hands of God,” Akinwale said.
DAILY POST learnt that one of the widows, a mother of six, offers her prayers at home alongside her children while calling Akinwale, who takes the phone to the arcade beside where her husband was ‘immortalised,’ and they pray together to celebrate his life.
Stop treating sites of national tragedy with disregard, take responsibility – Showunmi tells govt
The Convener of The Alternative, Segun Showunmi, argued that the victims of the Bellview crash deserve honour, not abandonment, urging the government to stop treating sites of national tragedy with such disregard.
He frowned at the poor condition of the access road and the neglect of the crash site, calling on the federal and Ogun State governments to urgently rehabilitate the deplorable road.
“It is unfortunate that twenty years after one of the darkest moments in our aviation history, Lisa Village, which should be a national monument of remembrance, has been left in disrepair. The road leading to the site is almost impassable, and the graves of our compatriots are being swallowed by bushes.
“We cannot continue to treat sites of national tragedy with such disregard. The victims of the Bellview crash deserve honour, not abandonment. The government must take responsibility by clearing the area, paving the road, and ensuring the place is preserved as a heritage site for reflection and learning.”
Showunmi harped on the need for both levels of government to partner with aviation stakeholders, local communities, and civil society to develop Lisa into a proper memorial and research site that reflects Nigeria’s commitment to safety, remembrance, and compassion.
