The Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Lucky Aiyedatiwa has endorsed Laffmattazz with Gbenga Adeyinka and Friends.

Governor Aiyedatiwa who received Gbenga Adeyinka, the Grand Comedian of the Nigeria (GCON) on Tuesday, 3 June 2025, expressed his endorsement of the show and said the state is happy to host Laffmattazz with Gbenga Adeyinka and Friends at the FMT Events Center, Ala Quarters, Akure on Thursday, June 12.

Governor Aiyedatiwa while pulling his weight behind the comedy event, disclosed that Ondo State is a safe haven for tourism and entertainment, thereby promising to work with the organisers to reel out a successful show.

The ‘Sho Le’ crooner, Sean Tizzle will lead the repertoire of musical performances including Oyomesi, Abbey Awesome, Lekzido, Ruby, Miko Fridan and JP3PLE2.

Talented comedians on the bill are; Omobaba, Bash, Erekere, Baba Alariya, Kojah Kage, ATM, Chi Young, General Olak, Dr Spencer, Dr Arotele, MC Stylo, Taichi, Prince Phelar, Jingle, Wisdom the Mimic Guy, Honda Stevo, Odogwu, Iparipate, Emzuma and Ofak.

According to Gbenga Adeyinka, Red Carpet starts by 3 PM while the main show commences by 4 PM. “Tickets are available online at (https://www.funzweb.com/events/laff-mattazz-about-time-akure-158) and https://shorturl.at/FfVZP. Physical tickets can be purchased at Madigrazz Lounge, (Akure Mall),

Iya Saheed Alamala, Isolo Street, Akure, Madison Restaurant, Akure-Owo Road, Alagbaka and Vintage Royale, Off Airport Road, Oba Ile,” he said.

The show themed ‘About Time Tour’ is powered by FIRS, ODIRS, Omni Blu Aviation and supported by Ondo State and Eleganza Industries.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that Nigeria is no longer among the countries holding back airlines’ earnings, also referred to as blocked or trapped funds.

Kamil Al-Awadhi, IATA’s regional vice-president for Africa, the Middle East, and Europe (AME), made this known during a press briefing at the association’s latest annual general meeting (AGM).

He explained that although the issue of blocked funds still persists in the region, noticeable progress has been recorded in nations such as Nigeria, Egypt, and Ethiopia.

“Significant improvements have been made in Nigeria, Egypt and Ethiopia over the last year, with Nigeria no longer on the list of blocked funds countries,” the vice-president said.

He further noted that despite these advances, countries within the AME region still dominate the list of places with blocked funds. Mozambique currently holds the largest amount, followed by the XAF Zone (which includes Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon), then Algeria and Lebanon.

Al-Awadhi stated that as of April, the total amount of trapped airline revenue globally was $1.28 billion, up from $1.7 billion in October 2024.

He revealed that 29 countries in the AME region are currently withholding international airlines’ revenue, with $1.1 billion — or 85 percent of the global figure — blocked in Africa and the Middle East.

“… out of that, $919 million is tied up in African countries,” the vice-president added.

According to the data shared by the IATA official, the countries with the highest levels of blocked funds in the AME as of April include Mozambique ($205 million), the XAF Zone ($191 million), Algeria ($178 million), Lebanon ($142 million), and Angola ($84 million).

‘GOVERNMENTS SHOULD PRIORITISE AVIATION IN ACCESS TO FX’

Al-Awadhi expressed concern about the effects of unreleased funds and emphasized that consistent cash flow is critical to the sustainability of airline operations.

He explained that when airlines cannot retrieve their earnings, it greatly disrupts their services and limits the destinations they can cover.

“Reduced air connectivity hampers countries’ competitiveness, diminishes investor confidence and labels countries as a high-risk place to do business,” he added.

“Strong connectivity is an economic enabler and generates considerable economic and social benefits.

“We call on governments to prioritise aviation in the access to foreign exchange on the basis that air connectivity is a vital key economic catalyst for the country.”

The issue of blocked funds has been a longstanding point of contention between Nigeria and foreign airlines.

In 2023, Nigeria reportedly had the highest volume of trapped airline revenue globally due to a prolonged shortage of foreign exchange that affected several sectors.

This situation prompted some international airlines to halt operations in Nigeria and barred local travel agencies from issuing tickets.

Amid rising tensions, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), then led by Godwin Emefiele, disbursed $265 million to airlines in 2022 in a bid to ease the crisis in the aviation sector.

The current government continued the disbursements, releasing another $61.64 million as part of efforts to address the outstanding foreign exchange backlog, which was estimated to be around $7 billion.

In March 2024, the CBN announced that the FX backlog had been cleared, and IATA subsequently confirmed that Nigeria had settled 98 percent of the trapped funds owed to airlines.

The most recent figure for blocked funds in Nigeria stood at about $850 million.

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, criticized Bode George, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, over his remarks about the party’s ground rent debt owed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

George had previously stated that Wike should have paid the outstanding ground rent to show his loyalty to the party, especially since the unpaid amount led to the closure of the PDP’s national headquarters.

However, during a live session with selected journalists on Monday, Wike responded that neither he nor George was responsible for paying the rent, as the debt was not under their names. He also mentioned that George himself owed the FCTA.

He said, “I read what he said. If an old man has no job, sit down in your house and read newspapers. Bode George said the PDP made me, and PDP gave me a national name. I agree.

“A party cannot make you; you are the one that will make the party popular to win an election. I agree that the PDP made me.”

Wike further stated that, in contrast to what has happened in Lagos, he had made significant efforts for the PDP, helping it win in Rivers State and at the federal level.

He said, “Ask Bode George, ‘Who did the PDP make in Lagos since 1999?’ Not anyone and then you are talking to me who has laboured, campaigned, and won for the party to be the major party in the state and at the national level.

“Meanwhile in your state, the party every day is crying, complaining from 1999. Even when we were in power, we knew what we did to make sure that PDP took over in Lagos. It didn’t work; even when Jonathan came, it didn’t work.”

While appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today on May 29, 2025, George expressed disappointment that Wike, a PDP member and Minister of the FCT, was in charge when the FCTA sealed the party’s headquarters.

“What is ₦7 million? He should have just said to them, ‘Okay, ₦7 million, I’ll pay from my pocket. Take the receipt back to the party’s secretariat. You see, you people are foolish.

“‘I’m completely committed to this house; I am completely loyal to this house. I will not decimate it. This is the receipt, give me back my money.’ That is what you call a true son of that family,” he added.

Last Monday, the FCTA sealed the PDP national headquarters, also called Wadata Plaza, as part of an operation involving the revocation of 4,794 properties due to non-payment of ground rent over periods ranging from 10 to 43 years.

The properties affected included those belonging to government bodies, companies, and individuals.

After President Bola Tinubu’s intervention, defaulters were given an additional 14 days to clear their outstanding ground rent payments and any penalties that applied.