Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Flight Details
- Memorial Construction
- Road Condition
- Call for Action
- Families of Victims
- Government Responsibility
It has been twenty years since the Boeing 737-200, operated by Bellview Airlines and carrying 111 passengers along with six crew members, crashed into Lisa, a serene community in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Like every other flight, the Boeing 737-200 took off from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, heading to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, at precisely 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2005. Prominent Nigerians were on board, including the former Postmaster General of Nigeria, Mallam Argungu Abubakar; the Director of Research and Documentation at the Nigerian Press Council, Mr. Omang Ojang; and the ECOWAS Director of Finance in Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Quaye, who was originally from Ghana.
Other notable passengers included the former Managing Director of the defunct Peoples Bank, Mrs. Maria Sokenu, and Usman Umar, a traditional ruler from Daddare in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, who also served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Programme on Immunisation. Unfortunately, none of them survived the crash.
The flight, piloted by Captain Imasuen Lambert, was initially reported missing but was later discovered wrecked in the community, approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles; 27 nautical miles) from Lagos.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Nigerian government, in collaboration with Ogun State, established a memorial arcade and garden to honor the deceased.
This memorial was named Lisa Memorial Arcade, where the remains of the victims, whose bodies were crushed upon impact, were interred similarly to a cemetery, with their names prominently displayed on their tombstones.
According to DAILY POST, former Ogun Governor Gbenga Daniel, through the state’s Road Maintenance Agency (OGROMA), also constructed the access roads to the arcade, facilitating easier access for families and mourners visiting the gravesite.
However, over the years, neglect and a lack of maintenance have rendered the 10.5-kilometer access road from Ijoko in a deplorable and impassable state, particularly during the rainy seasons.
The access road lasted for only six months – Onilisa of Lisa
The Onilisa of Lisa, Oba Oladele Najeem Odugbemi, Ayelodun I, expressed to DAILY POST that the access road, which served 17 communities, lasted for only six months, attributing the failure to poor workmanship by the contractors.
The monarch praised former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo for providing the victims with a meaningful memorial, noting that it brought recognition to the community, transforming the arcade grounds into a tourist site with various schools visiting for excursions.
However, he lamented that the once-vibrant arcade has fallen into disrepair, now overgrown with weeds and plagued by deteriorating roads.
He stated, “The contractor responsible for the road project from Ijoko to the crash site, which spans 10.5 km, did not execute it properly. We only enjoyed that road for six months, perhaps a year, and after that, we faced the challenges of the road.
“Regrettably, both the arcade and the road have deteriorated significantly. The entire arcade is now completely dilapidated. You can hardly see anything other than bushes; the road from Ijoko has become far worse than it used to be.
“Initially, when they inaugurated the arcade in 2007, many schools came here for excursions from both within and outside Ogun State. Families of the victims also visited for prayers, especially on the anniversary day. Some stayed until after the anniversary, traveling from as far as Benue, the South-South, and the Northern regions of the country. Even some foreign visitors used to come, but they stopped coming around 14–15 years ago.”
Oba Odugbemi argued that in addition to harming the economic value of the community, the road has become a death trap, causing residents to flee and abandon their homes.
“Many people tried to settle and build in our community when the road was constructed, but they are now moving away because the road is so bad. The economy of our community has declined. During the rainy season, motorcycle riders fall into the gutters and pits. We have experienced fatalities due to the poor condition of the road.”
Please reconstruct and maintain the arcade like the United States’ Ground Zero
The monarch urged for the reconstruction and proper maintenance of the arcade, suggesting it should serve as the only aviation tourist center in Africa, akin to the United States’ Ground Zero.
Oba Odugbemi noted that despite numerous appeals and letters addressed to both federal and state governments, they have gone unanswered.
“I have written many times to Abuja, including to Ogun State, not only to the current governor but also to the former governor, Ibikunle Amosun. The arcade should be reconstructed because it is meant to be like what happened in the United States during the 9/11 tragedy. I visited the United States after 9/11, and they refer to that site as Ground Zero. It has become a tourist attraction. This is a similar situation to what occurred in Lisa; it should be utilized as a tourist center in Africa.
“My plea to the federal and state governments is to restore that arcade and revive its lost glory so that the memories of these victims will continue to bring joy to all of us who remain.”
Families of victims abandon memorial arcade, connect with deceased through phone – Ataese of Lisa
The Ataese of Lisa, Akinsola Akinwale, shared that over the past decade, approximately four families of the departed have stopped visiting due to the poor condition of the road.
“I remember the family members, about four of them in the last ten years, who used to visit but have since ceased coming due to the bad state of the road, which is quite concerning. Most times when I contact them, they express that the location is not accessible and they are entrusting their loved ones to God,” Akinwale stated.
DAILY POST learned that
