Monarch urges FG, Ogun govt to restore neglected Bellview memorial site ahead of 20th anniversary

A passionate appeal has been made to the Federal and the Ogun State governments to rehabilitate the site of the tragic 2005 Bellview airline crash, which occurred at Lisa town in Ifo Local Government area on October 22, 2005.

Speaking during an interdenominational prayer session organized by the Onilisa of Lisa, Oba Najeem Ayinla Odugbemi, the monarch called on both tiers of government to prioritize the renovation of the Lisa Memorial Arcade, which has fallen into disrepair and become overgrown with bush over the years.

“We are appealing to both the Federal and State Governments to restore this important site,” Oba Odugbemi said. “It is not only the resting place of 117 souls — Nigerians and foreign nationals alike — it is also a symbol of collective memory. We have made several representations in the past.
As part of the Isese 2025 celebration, we gather Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists to honour the victims and renew our call for action.”

The monarch expressed concern that the memorial arcade, once frequented by bereaved families and visitors, now stands largely abandoned. He described the 10.5-kilometre road linking Ogba-Iyo in Ijoko through Oyero to the crash site as impassable, noting that the original tarring lasted less than a year before being washed away by seasonal flooding.

Oba Odugbemi recalled the memorial’s inauguration by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and then-Governor Gbenga Daniel, when the site drew national attention and international sympathy, lamenting that today, the site is begging for attention.

The arcade, which houses the graves of all 117 victims, features individual tombstones bearing their names. Many of these are now in poor condition, with structural damage and erosion threatening their integrity.

The monarch urged the government to recognise the site as a national heritage asset and propose its development into an aviation memorial and educational centre. He stressed that restoring the access road would not only facilitate remembrance but also serve the growing local population.

Prayers were led by Reverend O. Emmanuel, Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and Chief Imaam Musemil Junaid, who offered blessings for the victims and their families. Both clerics joined the monarch in urging the authorities to act without further delay.
Ajofoyinbo, the town’s topmost masquerade, also offered prayers with libations on the souls of the departed victims.

The monarch commended community development committees, residents of the town, youths, and local security operatives for gracing the event. He singled out the youths of Lisa for volunteering to clear the bushy memorial site along with So-Safe Security, Amotekun, and other local vigilante groups.

The Palace of the Onilisa confirmed that preparations were underway for a formal commemoration on 22 October 2025, marking two decades since the tragedy.

The event is expected to bring together families of the victims, government representatives, and members of the public. The kingdom hopes that both the Ogun State and Federal Governments will support the initiative and help restore dignity to the site.

Bellview Airlines Flight 210, travelling from Lagos to Abuja, crashed shortly after takeoff on 22 October 2005, killing all 117 passengers and crew. The wreckage was discovered in Lisa Town, where the victims were later buried.

The tragedy claimed the lives of 117 people drawn from different walks of life. Among them were notable Nigerians and foreign nationals whose deaths left a lasting void in national and institutional memory. They included a former Postmaster-General of Nigeria, Argungu Abubakar; Mr Omang Ojang, Director of Research and Documentation at the Nigerian Press Council; Mr Emmanuel Quaye, a Ghanaian who was serving as ECOWAS Director of Finance in Nigeria; Mrs Maria Sokenu, a former Managing Director of the defunct Peoples Bank; and His Royal Highness Usman Umar, the traditional ruler of Daddare in Nasarawa State, who also chaired the Board of Directors of the National Programme on Immunisation.