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Bellview: A Monument to Tragedy, Forgotten in Time
October 22, 2025, marked the 20th anniversary of a Boeing 737-200 flight, number 210, operated by Bellview Airlines, which crashed in Lisa, a locality within the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, resulting in the deaths of all 117 passengers on board. A reporter present at the Lisa Memorial Arcade, constructed to honor the victims, stated that the national monument is currently in a state of disrepair.
It was a routine flight when the airline departed Lagos heading to Abuja at precisely 7:30pm on Saturday, October 22, 2005. The air traffic controller directed the crew to reach out to Lagos Approach Control, and the flight seemed normal. Pilot Captain Imasuen Lambert first contacted Lagos Approach Control and responded to the controller's instructions at 7:32pm.
That was the final recorded communication from the aircraft. The air traffic controller attempted to reestablish contact with Flight 210 but was unsuccessful; consequently, it was considered lost.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was informed about a search-and-rescue mission. Helicopters were sent to the location where communication with Flight 210 was last established, but rescue teams could not detect signals from the plane's ELT.
Contradictory accounts started to surface, indicating that the plane's debris was allegedly discovered in Kisi, located in the northern region of Oyo State.
Additional information came to light indicating that the plane plunged downward and crashed at a high speed shortly after departure, resulting in the death of all 117 individuals aboard near Lisa village.
The lives of 111 passengers and six crew members—mostly believed to be Nigerians—were lost in the disastrous crash, plunging the nation into a massive tragedy. This crash marked the beginning of a series of aviation accidents that shook Nigeria in 2005 and 2006.
As per reports, there were at least 10 Ghanaians, two Malian-French individuals, two British nationals, two Gambians, and one traveler each from Germany and South Africa. U.S. authorities also verified the presence of a U.S. military officer, Major Joseph Haydon, on the flight. Additionally, a citizen from Sierra Leone was on board.
Among the passengers were a former Nigerian postmaster-general, Argungu Abubakar; Mr. Omang Ojang, a Research and Documentation director at the Nigerian Press Council; Mr. Emmanuel Quaye, the ECOWAS finance director in Nigeria (a Ghanaian); Mrs. Maria Sokenu, a former managing director of the now-defunct Peoples Bank; and Usman Umar, the traditional ruler of Daddare, who also served as the chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Programme on Immunisation in the Obi Local Government Council of Nasarawa State, along with several others.
The unfortunate event later brought Lisa's community into the global spotlight, with notable individuals and families of the victims, both from within and outside the country, gathering in the town to view the crash site and honor the deceased.
A year later, the Nigerian Federal Government and the Ogun State Government together constructed the Lisa Memorial Arcade and Garden to pay tribute to the victims of the accident. The arcade became the last resting place for the victims, with their names clearly engraved on the monuments.
A recollection destined to decay A remnant lingering in decay An echo fading away A past that remains untouched A tale left to wither A moment forgotten and neglected A relic of times long gone A story slowly decaying A fragment of the past deteriorating A legacy abandoned to rot
For twenty years, the Bellview cemetery, where 117 Nigerians and foreigners are buried, remained quiet and in disrepair.
Apart from the sidewalk, the arcade has been overtaken by weeds, starting from the entrance.
As a form of identification, an engraving on the plaque at the entrance states:
This epidemic was revealed in honor of the victims of the Bellview Plane Crash on October 22, 2005, by President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on October 22, 2006.
Within the premises, our reporter used sticks to clear his way in order to read the names of the victims listed.
The structure, spanning 2.7 hectares, exudes signs of disuse and abandonment.
Our reporter noted that several of the most severe tombstones with the victims' names had already been removed, while sections of the concrete floor leading to the center of the arcade were already subsiding.
The gravesites were constructed around the impact location with paths enabling guests to get a view.
At the beginning, when the location was opened in 2006, numerous schools visited from Ogun State and distant areas. People and the families of the victims would go there to pray, particularly on the anniversary date.
"Some remained until after the anniversary; they came from Benue, South-South, and the northern region of the country. Even some white individuals used to visit when the road was in good condition. However, everything ceased 12 to 14 years ago. The arcade has deteriorated; there is nothing left there anymore," said the Onilisa of the Lisa kingdom, Oba Najeemdeen Odugbemi, to our correspondent.
Arcade now farmland
Weekend Trust states that the leftover area inside the property has been transformed into farmland for growing rice, maize, cassava, plantains, and other food crops.
The pathways have also been transformed into areas where farmers air their cassava powder and other agricultural products.
Our reporter spoke with one of the farmers, Okanlawon Muyideen, who stated, "I am not the only one cultivating this land. We don't want it to become overgrown, so we are utilizing the rich soil for farming."
Mrs. Bola Odugbemi, whose residence is adjacent to the arcade, voiced her dissatisfaction with the deteriorated condition of the monument, stating, 'The government has not demonstrated any interest in this location. The local community, particularly the young people, often clean the area when it gets overgrown with weeds.'
"The government should urgently restore it. People used to come here, but every time they visit, they end up being disappointed by the state of the monument. This issue requires attention. The government can intervene and transform it into a popular tourist destination," she said.
Another inhabitant, Prophet Okesade Oluwatosin Abiola, also referred to as Alagba Kerubu, stated, "At the time of the incident, I was not in Nigeria. I was in Ivory Coast then, but upon returning to Lagos, I was disheartened by the location. This is a sad situation. It's an eyesore."
We require the government to address the issue and enhance its appeal so that individuals can visit it frequently. It is a memorial location and should not be in such a poor condition. We call for the restoration of this site.
Lisa's Atayese, Akinsola Akinwale stated, "We hope the government will visit to see what they can do to transform this area into a significant landmark. It could bring them revenue. It's not only about improving our community, but also a mutual advantage. It enhances the community and they will also gain from it."
It is a copy of the 9/11 memorial location
Oba Odugbemi claimed the arcade resembled the US 9/11 memorial, and urged the federal authorities and Ogun State Government to rebuild the location.
He mentioned that when Gbenga Daniel's government purchased 2.7 hectares of land to construct the arcade, the intention was "to erect hotels, hospitals, shopping centers, and similar facilities in order to transform it into a tourist hub."
The ruler stated, 'The arcade needs to be rebuilt as it should resemble the one in the United States during the 9/11 event. I traveled to the United States following the 9/11 attack. They refer to the location as Ground Zero and the World Trade Center. If you go there, you will see that the efforts of the New York State government have resulted in something even more impressive than what existed prior to the attack. It has now turned into a major tourist attraction for those visiting America.'
Lisa is expected to develop into a tourist hub in Africa. That arcade is meant to symbolize the sole aviation-related tourist center on the continent.
My request to the federal and state governments is that they revive that arcade so that the memories of the victims remain with all of us who are still alive.
Oba Odugbemi stated that the farming taking place inside the arcade had his approval.
What they are engaged in is subsistence agriculture; it's merely to maintain the area's cleanliness. During farming, it is your responsibility to remove shrubs so that they don't overrun the space.
Some of the previous security personnel at that location asked for my approval to utilize the site for agricultural purposes because there are no buildings present. They do not cultivate commercial crops; instead, they grow food crops that have a brief growing cycle.
"They are there simply to maintain activity and cleanliness so that those seeking to seize land will not arrive and begin selling it to others," he explained.
Weekend Trust notes that to ensure the arcade was accessible to visitors, former President Obasanjo awarded the contract for building a road to the site—a 10.5-kilometre road linking Lisa and Ijoko-Ota. However, it has entirely collapsed, causing distress to both the living and the deceased; and the government has ignored it.
It was noted that the road, which is full of potholes, artisans, and damaged bridges, has deteriorated due to erosion. Several vehicles and trucks carrying sand were seen broken down along the route.
Community members informed Weekend Trust that the poor state of the road has also prevented relatives of those who died in the Bellview crash from continuing to visit the location to pray for their lost family members. They added that this situation is negatively impacting the community's social and economic activities.
A professional motorcyclist, Ayandokun Adesola, who has been operating on the roads for 19 years stated, 'The state of the roads has caused significant damage to our motorcycles and services. We incur substantial costs in fixing our bikes; this reduces our earnings.'
He revealed that they transport two passengers and charge between N2,000 and N1,600 per person for a one-way journey.
But when it rains, the cost can reach up to N2,500 per person. That would amount to N4,000 per trip from here to Lisa. If the road were in good condition, the trip should cost between N300 and N500 per person.
"I call on the government to assist us in repairing the terrible road as it has become intolerable. People have been moving out of this neighborhood, which has impacted the number of passengers," Adesola stated.
Muyideen also shared with our reporter that frequently, the monarch utilized his own resources to repair certain sections of the road to ensure it was navigable.
It's a deadly trap, the monarch laments.
Oba Odugbemi informed Weekend Trust that the agreement for the 10.5km road was granted during President Obasanjo's tenure, but the community only benefited from it for six months following its completion.
He stated, "President Olusegun Obasanjo did an excellent job by providing a commendable memorial tribute to the victims. It is documented that the road leading from Ijoko to Lisa was recognized at the Federal Executive Council meeting. I saw it on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) that day."
When the award was given, we expected the road to be built, but an issue arose. I am unaware of the contractors involved, but they did not carry out the work properly. We managed to benefit from the road for six months, or at most, a year; following that, we have encountered difficulties.
It has deteriorated more than before. It was in poor condition between 2006 and 2007. It is now so bad that if you go through it during the rainy season, it will be very irritating.
The road links roughly 17 communities, towns, and villages. You can witness the impact that this poor road has had on our community. The local economy has declined. There have been fatalities because of the road's condition.
In their effort to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the event in their community, Oba Odugbemi stated, 'We are organizing a candlelight ceremony for the victims; we have every name. We will ensure there are 117 boards with all the names clearly displayed.'
Young people from the neighborhood will hold the signs. We will be present on the 22nd along with the families of the deceased. Followers of the three different religions will come together to offer prayers for the souls who have passed away. We could also organize some cultural performances.
State govt responds
Attempts to obtain a statement from the Ogun State Government regarding the abandoned site were unsuccessful. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, did not reply to inquiries from our reporter, and the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sesan Abolaji Fagbayi, also remained unresponsive.
Nevertheless, in September 2022, Adijat Adeleye, the former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and now leading the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, indicated the government's intention to collaborate with the private sector to transform the arcade into a tourist attraction.
She reportedly also mentioned that the government plans to restore the poorly maintained memorial arcade that was constructed as a burial site.
She addressed the audience during the community day event and the inauguration of the Civic Centre in Lisa town.
As we entered, we had to visit the Lisa Memorial Arcade, the site of the plane crash. We have observed some aspects and plan to return to see what we can accomplish. I think we can transform that location into a tourist center; it is one of our attractions in Ogun state.
We are excited about reviving the location through a Public Private Partnership. We plan to collaborate with the private sector to restore the area in a manner that attracts visitors for tourism.
If we travel beyond our country's borders, there are numerous tourist attractions that lack the kind of history we have in Lisa; therefore, we are considering collaboration with the private sector to revive the area.
The commissioner stated, 'Our doors are open to individuals, the private sector, and corporate organizations that have an interest in tourism, inviting them to come here and help us, support us in ensuring that this place is presented appropriately.'
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).Demikianlah Artikel Bellview: A Monument to Tragedy, Forgotten in Time
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