Seventeen years after the ill-fated plane crash involving Boeing 737-200 aircraft, Flight 210, operated by Bellview Airlines crashed in Lisa Town in Ifo Local government Area of Ogun State, killing the 117 passengers on board, the state government has concluded plans to rehabilitate the deplorable memorial arcade built as a grave site for victims of the unfortunate incident and as well revamped it for tourist attractions in Partnership with the Private Sector.
The State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Adijat Oladapo, disclosed while speaking with newsmen during the community day celebration and the launching of the Civic Centre in Lisa town on Saturday.
The memorial arcade, which serves as the grave site for the victims of the Bellview plane crash in 2005, was jointly built by the Federal and Ogun state governments in honour of the victims.
The arcade due to neglect on the part of both state and federal government is now lying in ruins begging for attention.
Speaking on the deplorable condition of the arcade, the Commissioner said the state had concluded plans to rehabilitate the arcade and turn it into a world-class tourist centre through Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
Oladapo said the state opted for a PPP arrangement to resuscitate the arcade due to the unlimited resources of the government.
“As we were coming in, we had to go to the Lisa Memorial Arcade where the plane crash occurred. We have noticed some things we are going to go back and see what we can do. The state doesn’t have unlimited funds and I believe that we can turn that place into a tourist centre; it is one of our tourist sites in Ogun state.
“We are looking forward to resuscitating the place through Public Private Partnership arrangement. We are going to be partnering with the private sector to put that place in a befitting form where people can come for tourism.
“If we go outside the country, there are so many tourist sites that do not even have the type of history that we have in Lisa here; so, we are looking at partnering with the private sector to resuscitate the place.
“Our doors are opened to people out there, the private sector, corporate organisations that are interested in tourism to come here and assist us, support us to make sure that we give that place a befitting look”, the commissioner said.
The Olu of Lisa Kingdom, Oba Najeemdeem Oladele Odugbemi, appealed to the state government to rehabilitate the road leading to the arcade.
He commended the government for its plan to resuscitate the arcade and turn it into a tourist site.
Oba Odugbemi said the community was ready to support the state in achieving its plan to give the arcade a befitting look.
