October 22, 2025, marked the 20th anniversary of a Boeing 737-200 flight, designated as Flight 210, operated by Bellview Airlines, which cra...
October 22, 2025, marked the 20th anniversary of a Boeing 737-200 flight, designated as Flight 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 individuals on board. A reporter present at the Lisa Memorial Arcade, constructed to honor the victims, states that the national monument is currently in a state of disrepair.
A routine flight departed Lagos heading to Abuja at precisely 7:30pm on Saturday, October 22, 2005. The air traffic controller directed the crew to communicate with 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 flight. 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 were unable to 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.
Subsequent information revealed that the plane plunged downward and crashed at a high velocity just minutes after departing, resulting in the deaths 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 major 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 person 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 postmaster-general of Nigeria, Argungu Abubakar; Mr Omang Ojang, a director of Research and Documentation 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, Obi Local Government Council in Nasarawa State, who also served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Programme on Immunisation, 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 beyond the country, gathering in the town to view the crash site and honor the departed.
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 tombstones.
A recollection destined to decay A remembrance left to wither An echo lingering in decay A past moment allowed to rot A memory abandoned to decay A thought left to deteriorate A fragment of the past left to rot A recollection slowly decaying
For twenty years, the Bellview cemetery, where 117 Nigerians and foreigners are buried, remained quiet and in disrepair.
Besides the walkway, the arcade has been overtaken by weeds, starting from the entrance.
As a form of identification, an engraving on the sign at the entrance states:
This epidemic was revealed in remembrance 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 grounds, our reporter utilized 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 beginning to sink.
The gravestones were constructed around the crash site with pathways enabling visitors to get a view.
At the beginning, when the site was opened in 2006, numerous schools visited from Ogun State and distant locations. People and the families of the victims would go there to pray, particularly on the anniversary date.
"Some remained until after the anniversary, and 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 various other food crops.
The pathways have also been transformed into areas where farmers spread out their cassava powder and other agricultural products to dry.
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, who lives adjacent to the arcade, voiced her frustration regarding the deteriorated condition of the monument, stating, 'The government has not demonstrated any interest in the site. The local community, particularly the young people, often clean the area when it gets overtaken by weeds.'
"The government should urgently restore it. People used to come here, but every time they visit, they end up disappointed by the state of the monument. This situation 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, but upon my return to Lagos, I was dismayed by the location. This is a regrettable situation. It's an eyesore."
We require the government to address the issue and enhance its appeal so that individuals can visit it on a regular basis. It is a historical monument and should not be in such a poor condition. We call for the restoration of this location.
The Atayese of Lisa, 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 government along with the Ogun State Government to rebuild the location.
He mentioned that when Gbenga Daniel's administration purchased 2.7 hectares of land to establish the arcade, the intention was "to construct hotels, hospitals, shopping centers, and similar facilities to transform it into a tourist destination."
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 tragedy. They refer to the location as Ground Zero and the World Trade Center. If you visit there, you will see that the efforts of the New York State government have resulted in something even more magnificent than what existed prior to the attack. It has now transformed 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 authorities is for them to bring back that arcade so that the memories of the victims remain with everyone who is still here.
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. While cultivating, 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 growth period.
"They are there only to maintain the area's activity and cleanliness, preventing land grabbers from arriving and beginning to sell it to others," he explained.
Weekend Trust notes that to ensure the arcade was accessible for 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 mentioned that this situation is negatively affecting 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 for repairs, which reduces our earnings.'
He revealed that they accommodate 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 fare should be 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 stated to Weekend Trust that the agreement for the 10.5km road was given during President Obasanjo's leadership, 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 acknowledgment for 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 something went wrong. I am not familiar with the contractors who handled it, but they did not perform adequately. We only had the benefit of the road for six months, or at most, a year; after that, we 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 irritate you.
The highway links roughly 17 towns, villages, and communities. You can witness how this poor road has taken away from our community. The local economy has declined. We have experienced fatalities because of the road's bad condition.
In their effort to commemorate the 20-year milestone of the event in their neighborhood, 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 banners. We will be present on the 22nd along with the families of the deceased. Followers of the three different faiths 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 currently leading the Women Affairs and Social Development Ministry, 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, which was constructed as a burial site.
She addressed the audience during the community day event and the unveiling 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).
