... As victim families desert memorial site
Twenty years after Bellview Airline crashed at Lisa, a community in Ifo local government area of Ogun state killing some notable Nigerians, HAKEEM ADEGBENRO took a tour of the once celebrated grave site. His findings depicts ruins, decay and national neglect.
In the evening of October, 22 2005, a Boeing 737-200 operated by Bellview airlines, carrying 117 passengers including crew members crashed nosediving into Lisa, a relatively unknown community in Ifo local government area of Ogun state.
Prominent Nigerians killed by the ill-fated passenger flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos en route Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja include, the former postmaster general of Nigeria, Mallam Argungu Abubakar; Director of Research and Documentation, Nigerian Press Council, Mr Omang Ojang; ECOWAS Director of Finance in Nigeria (a Ghanian), Mr Emmanuel Quaye; former managing director of defunct Peoples Bank, Mrs. Maria Sokenu and a traditional ruler of Daddare, Obi local government area of Nasarawa state, who doubles as chairman, Board of Directors of the National Programme on Immunisation, Usman Umar and others.
No survivors was recorded, including all 6 crew members of the airline.
The crash became the defining moment in the Nigeria aviation sector as several outcry from citizens gave birth to a memorial arcade and garden in memory of the lost soul in the ill-fated flight.
Two decades gone, and a visit to the memorial arcade leaves a sour taste as vividly seen in its neglect, a situation often associated with several national assets in the country.
Recall that when the unfortunate incident occurred, former Governor, Gbenga Daniel, through Ogun State Road Maintence Agency (OGROMA) constructed the link roads to the arcade, making access to the gravesite easy for families and mourners.
However, with years of neglect and lack of maintenance, the 10.5kilometer access road from Sango has become so deplorable to the extent that accessing Lisa community is better on Motorcycle (Okada) as the road becomes impassable, especially during rainy seasons.
Then once celebrated arcade is now a shadow of itself, despite government’s previous yearly fanfare to mark the anniversaries of the crash. The arcade is now an eyesore to the extent that even the dead would be cringing at the level of neglect by successive governments.
Community fertile efforts
Speaking with our reporter, Chief Adeyinka Adefunmiloye, the Amona of Lisa Kingdom, stated that despite several government promises, little or no efforts was geared towards the rehabilitation of the arcade.
He cited his personal journey to the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Abuja, where several presentations and letters were exchanged detailing how viable and resourceful the arcade can become to intellectual and revenue opportunity, yet "nothing happened".
"When the incident happened, there were conflicting reports on where the plane actually crashed, until it was discovered here in Lisa.
"After the evacuation, the federal government of that time of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as President and the state government of Otunba Gbenga Daniel swung into action.
"When the Arcade was to be constructed, they asked the community that we should let out some hectares of land which we did. They told us that they were going to turn this arcade into a tourist site of international standard and that people would be coming from different countries to visit.
"At the end of the day, nobody came back to even check if there is still an arcade here. The place became so bushy. I'll tell you what you see today. It's as a result of the effort of the monarch, the chiefs and the community people.
"Even the two security men that were here, nobody was paying them salary. After about three months, so it became the duty of the monarch, he took it over himself and started paying salary to them.
"We have done alot of presentations, not only letters, we do follow up, several letters even to the extent of doing a letter to the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation in Abuja.
"Remember, this is a joint project of the federal and state government. So I was there myself. She read the letter, Immediately she called a meeting of all the directors in the Parasatars. They had a meeting with me and she promised, one of the directors will be coming.
"Later, somebody called me from the airport. I went to the airport to pick her, a lady, a senior director for that matter. She came, she saw the neglect, the total neglect. She was surprised that how could such a thing be happening in Nigeria? She did all her recommendations. We went back to her office, submitted, and at the end, nothing happened.
"The government should please look at Lisa Memorial Arcade as a monument that was built in memory of 117 people that perished in the crash. They should please come and renovate this place, and turn this place to a tourist site where the family of the victims can always visit", he pleaded.
Speaking also, a member of Ifesowapo Consultative Forum, an umbrella body for Community Development Committee (CDC), in this area, Lisa and it's environs, Ganiyu Olowu lamented that an arcade of such history which could have served as a boost for the local economy, is being neglected by the government.
"Well, it's a misdevelopment that brought the attention of the world to this place. The symbolic nature of the crash is that there are many foreign nationals and renowned Nigerians including former postmaster general, Alhaji Abubaka Arugungu, Maria Shokenu, Mohammed Addo and so many other diplomats that were involved. But beyond that, It also brought attention to this area, in terms of the road that was constructed. But it was just short-lived.
"That is the biggest narrative around it. It brought a lot of attention. So a lot of development came, people started developing real estate, around the area. But it was short-lived. since then, government attention has not been seen here
"Imagine this place, what it would have been? It would have been a museum and tourist center where portraits and artworks, signaling what happened on October 2005 would have been here for students, researchers, visitors and tourists globally.
"But unfortunately, Ogun state government is not looking at the advantage and we are only looking elsewhere. It would have been a huge opportunity to develop the local economy here. In terms of mathematics, you know what that would be. With just a 10-man or five-man staff, this place would have a manager, a tourist guide, office managers, and some other than some little money would accrue here.
"But that would require a good road or access route from Ijoko which is about 10.5km and that is less than the amount it will take you to construct a airport Tamac", he said
Victim's families abandoned memorial arcade
Meanwhile, Apostle Akinsola Akinwale, the Ataese of Lisa in his remarks lamented that the years of neglect on road and other infrastructure has left the community 'ghosted', as many residents have abandoned their properties to find succour elsewhere.
He added that, "I am always unhappy seeing this place like this. We are in a community where we always perform our civic duties and so much is expected from the government in terms of rehabilitation and putting a facelift into the community, which I think and I believe wouldn't have cost so much for them to do.
"I will not forget the family members, about four of them in the last one decade that used to come in the past, have ceased to come, owning to the bad state of the road and it's so worrisome. Most times when you call them, because I have contacts of about four, the four I mentioned, they will always say, no, the place is not accessible. They don't think they can come here again. They are keeping their loved ones in the hands of God".
In an emotion laden voice, a widow of one of the victims, Mrs Olumekun, while speaking with our reporter via the phone stated that despite her old age, she would appreciate if she can always celebrate the anniversary at the arcade before she is called to join her husband.
The mother of six children lamented that her late husband was returning to her after a business trip to Lagos, but never returned. But today, I can only reminiscent his times with us before his departure because the bad road network would not allow us go there.
"What I and the children do is to offer prayers at home while connecting through the phone with our contact person in the community. He takes the phone to the arcade, beside where my husband was 'immortalised', and we pray together to celebrate his life.
