•Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa , and music icon, Innocent Idibia (2Baba)

Nigerian music icon, Innocent Idibia, better known as 2Baba, alongside his team has met with the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa to discuss the prospect of using music as a tool to counter violent narratives among young Nigerians.

During the meeting held in Abuja, 2Baba unveiled an initiative designed as a national, culture-driven intervention that leverages music to promote behavioural change and youth reorientation.

The campaign seeks to transform entertainment into a force for positive social influence, particularly at a time when some music narratives and visual aesthetics risk normalising aggression and harmful “hustle culture.”

Explaining the vision, 2Baba said the campaign aims to turn up conversations around lasting solutions to insecurity, break down barriers limiting access to creative talent, and activate youth engagement through experiential platforms, and ultimately helping to turn down the culture of violence.

In response, the Minister described the initiative as one that strongly aligns with the Federal Government’s non-kinetic strategy for tackling insecurity, noting that 2Baba’s influence and credibility among Nigerian youths position him as a powerful mentor and voice for positive change.

President Donald Trump on Friday said he believed that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is helping Iran in its war against the United States and Israel.

According to CNBC, Trump’s comment came in a radio interview with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade, and a week after the president lashed out at Fox News reporter Peter Doocy for asking him at the White House about reports that Russia was aiding Iran.

Kilmeade asked Trump on Friday: “You think Putin is helping them?”

Trump replied, “I think he might be helping them a bit, yeah.”“I guess, and he probably thinks we’re helping Ukraine, right?” Trump continued.

“Yeah, we’re helping them also,” Trump said, referring to Ukraine, which has been at war against Russia since being invaded in early 2022.

“So he [Putin] says that, and China would say the same thing, you know,” Trump told Kilmeade.

“It’s like, ‘Hey, they do it, and we do it, in all fairness,’ ” Trump said. “They do it, and we do it.”

Photo: Olayemi Cardoso , CBN Governor

To combat fraud, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled new regulations aimed at strengthening fraud control and digital banking security across the country.

These provisions are set to take effect from 1 May 2026.

In a circular issued to all banks, other financial institutions and payment service providers, the apex bank details amendments to the Revised Regulatory Framework for Bank Verification Number (BVN) operations and additional requirements for instant payment services.

Under the new BVN framework, financial institutions are required to maintain a temporary watchlist for BVNs implicated in suspected fraudulent transactions.Any BVN placed on this list will remain there for a maximum of 24 hours, during which the account holder will be contacted to provide clarification.

The circular also sets age restrictions for BVN enrolment, limiting registration to individuals 18 years and above, and restricts phone number amendments linked to BVNs to a single change.

Access to BVN databases will now be exclusively for CBN-licensed financial institutions, with the central bank retaining the right to grant access in extenuating circumstances under existing laws.