The Onilisa of Lisa, His Royal Majesty Oba Oladele Odugbemi, has called on the Federal and Ogun State Governments to urgently refurbish the memorial arcade and reconstruct the access road leading to the site of the Bellview Airlines crash in Lisa Town, Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State. The accident occurred on October 22, 2005.
Addressing worshippers at an interdenominational prayer service organised by his palace, Oba Odugbemi expressed concern that the once-preserved memorial has been neglected and overtaken by vegetation.
In a statement released to PUNCH Online on Tuesday, the monarch urged both levels of government to prioritise the rehabilitation of the Lisa Memorial Arcade.
“This site deserves urgent attention,” he said. “It is not only the final resting place of 117 victims—Nigerians and foreigners—it also represents a shared national memory. Over the years, we have made several appeals with little result. Today, as part of the Isese 2025 celebration, we bring together Christians, Muslims, and traditionalists to honour the departed and renew our demand for government intervention.”
As the 20th anniversary of the crash approaches on October 22, 2025, the monarch criticised the state of the 10.5-kilometre road linking Ogba-Iyo in Ijoko through Oyero to the crash site, describing it as “almost impassable.” He recalled that the road, which was once asphalted, collapsed within a year after flooding.
He further recommended that the site be declared a national heritage centre and transformed into an aviation memorial and learning hub to safeguard its historical significance while serving nearby communities.
The king recalled that the memorial arcade was originally commissioned by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel, when it drew both national and international sympathy. However, he lamented that the structure, which contains the graves of all 117 crash victims, has deteriorated, with erosion and structural faults endangering its preservation.
According to him, rehabilitating the access road would not only aid remembrance activities but also provide vital infrastructure for residents of Lisa and adjoining areas.
The wreckage from the crash was found in Lisa Town, where the victims were buried. The site, Oba Odugbemi said, stands as a solemn reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of memorialisation.
His palace disclosed that formal anniversary events are being planned for October 22, 2025, with families of victims, community members, and government representatives expected to attend.
Notable Nigerians and foreign nationals who died in the crash included the 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 served as ECOWAS Director of Finance in Nigeria; and Mrs. Maria Sokenu, former Managing Director of the defunct Peoples Bank.
Also among the deceased was His Royal Highness Usman Umar, traditional ruler of Daddare in Nasarawa State, who was then chairman of the Board of the National Programme on Immunisation.
