The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended a wider range of safe and effective contraceptive options, including emergency contraception, longer-lasting implants and potential future methods for men, to expand informed reproductive choices globally.

WHO said in a statement on Wednesday that the expanded options were needed because an estimated 164 million women seeking to delay or avoid pregnancy were not using contraception, highlighting access gaps worldwide.

“The new publication, ‘WHO guidelines on expanding contraceptive options,’ is designed to help countries broaden access to contraceptive methods supported by the best available scientific evidence and enable informed choices globally.

“The guideline provides alternative ways of using existing contraceptive methods, including allowing combined oral contraceptive pills to be taken continuously for up to one year or extended periods of six months.”

According to WHO, the guideline also supports the use of contraceptive implants for up to five years, a recommendation that could reduce replacement procedures, clinic visits and associated costs significantly.

“For emergency contraception, WHO recommends mifepristone as an additional option, to be taken as soon as possible and within five days after unprotected sex, based on evidence supporting safety and effectiveness.

“Mifepristone at doses ranging from 10 to 50 milligrams is likely to be as safe and effective as other established emergency contraceptive methods when used for emergency contraception,” it said.

WHO quoted Dr Pascale Allotey, Director of its Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, as saying contraception should not be treated as one-size-fits-all intervention.

According to Allotey, expanded contraceptive choices should consider convenience, invasiveness, behaviour, reliability and accessibility, enabling people to choose a method, change it when necessary, or discontinue its use freely.

“Expanding contraceptive options also requires identifying methods for which available evidence remains insufficient, noting that further research is needed on the safety of ormeloxifene.

“The guideline recommends against adding quinestrol-containing contraceptive pills to national family planning programmes, citing limited evidence and reports of serious adverse events associated with the method.

“Beyond existing methods, WHO is working to expand contraceptive choices for men, who currently have relatively few methods under their control, principally condoms, withdrawal and vasectomy.

“In spite of the limited number of male-controlled methods, WHO noted that about 30 per cent of couples globally rely on a male method, underscoring the potential importance of expanding options.”

According to the statement, WHO research also challenges assumptions about willingness to use male contraception, with more than 75 per cent of surveyed couples saying they would consider it.

“More than 85 per cent of women surveyed said they would trust their male partners to take responsibility for contraception, according to findings from a cross-sectional study conducted globally.

“To support development of new male contraceptives, WHO has developed its first Target Product Profile, outlining characteristics future methods should meet, including safety, effectiveness, acceptability and affordability,” it said.

According to WHO, the product profile will provide researchers, funders and developers with clearer direction while supporting development of a contraceptive market reflecting people’s needs and preferences.

“Several hormonal and non-hormonal male contraceptive methods are currently being researched, with promising candidates in advanced clinical trials, raising the possibility of new reversible male contraceptives becoming available soon.

“We will continue supporting countries to update their policies and family planning programmes in line with the best available scientific evidence and expanded contraceptive options,” WHO said.(NAN)

The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that no effort will be spared to secure lives, livelihoods, and dignity across the country.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja, at a meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) with the theme “Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria.

Conveying President Bola Tinubu’s message to the council, Akume acknowledged that the nation has continued to face deep and painful challenges.

He highlighted how violence, characterised by widespread banditry, kidnappings, communal clashes, and terror attacks has inflicted severe trauma on communities across Nigeria.

The SGF said tha Tinubu deeply appreciates the co-chairmen of NIREC, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, for their unwavering commitment to peace.

“Our nation is still passing through the thorny path of diverse challenges.

“Violence has left deep wounds. We have lost beloved relations, teachers, traders and parents while too many of our children have known fear at school gates.

“None of these tragedies is acceptable to the government. The assurance from the President is that every Nigerian will be adequately protected and no effort will be spared.

“In the words of the President, this government will not relent until every Nigerian can live, work, travel, and dream in safety,” Akume said.

To achieve this goal, the SGF revealed that the Armed Forces, police and other security agencies have significantly intensified their joint operations across all zones.

“These ongoing campaigns are specifically designed to dismantle criminal networks, root out non-state actors, and fully reclaim every inch of Nigerian territory.

“Beyond physical operations, the government is enhancing intelligence gathering, improving rapid response capabilities, and strengthening security around vulnerable soft targets like churches, mosques, markets, and schools through the Safe School Initiative,” he said.

Recognising that military action alone is insufficient, Akume emphasised that security remains a shared responsibility requiring strong support from civil society.

He called directly on religious and traditional figures to leverage their influence, speak with a unified voice, and actively dismantle divisive extremist narratives.

“All religions must condemn the barbaric tactics of bandits and terrorists because they debase humanity and violate all that our faiths stand for. We must stand together today saying: enough is enough,” he said.

The SGF urged faith leaders to foster mutual tolerance within their congregations, champion respect for all places of worship, and prevent socio-economic frustration from souring into ethnic or religious hatred.

He further tasked community leaders with proactively mediating local disputes before they escalate into violence, while strictly warning against letting places of worship become arenas for political thuggery as elections draw near.

“Please issue the clear, unambiguous public message: that politics belongs in the ballot, not at the altar or mosque,” he said.

Commending past diplomatic efforts, Akume praised the peace accord signed in August 2026 by over 50 prominent Muslim and Christian leaders under the joint Muslim World League and NIREC initiative.

Looking toward upcoming electoral cycles, he announced that NIREC would host state-level peace forums before the close of 2026.

He explained that the forum would bring together police commands, officials of the Independent Electoral Commission, and local interfaith leaders to identify flashpoints and secure commitments to post-election calm.

He pledged that the Federal Government would continue funding regional peacebuilding workshops, supporting youth and women peace caravans, and combating targeted disinformation campaigns designed to provoke religious tension.

Akume highlighted plans to establish direct liaison desks between security agencies and NIREC to facilitate the real-time exchange of critical threat intelligence.

“Let me also emphasise the link between peace and progress: “No community can develop when fear stalks its streets.

“Every hour of peace is a business that can flourish”. (NAN)

From Rabiu Sanusi, Kano

The Kano State Ministry for Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation (MPPPME) has conducted an inspection of ongoing and newly commenced development projects across Bagwai and Shanono Local Government Areas as part of its continued efforts to ensure quality, compliance, accountability and value for money in the execution of government projects.

The monitoring exercise covered no fewer than 38 projects across the two local government areas, with the technical team of the Ministry assessing the level of implementation, quality of work, adherence to specifications and other relevant contractual requirements.

The inspection team was led by the Honourable Commissioner, Nura Ma’aji Sumaila, who personally inspected the take-off of the Shanono Modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre Project.

The inspection provided an opportunity for the Ministry’s technical team to assess the commencement of the project, review the initial construction activities and engage relevant stakeholders and contractors on the need to adhere strictly to approved specifications, standards and timelines.

Briefing journalists during the inspection, Commissioner Ma’aji Sumaila disclosed that the Kano State Government had awarded contracts worth approximately ₦27.806 billion for the construction of modern ICT and CBT centres across all 44 Local Government Areas of the State.

According to him, the initiative is designed to expand access to digital facilities at the grassroots, strengthen ICT infrastructure and provide students and other residents with improved access to Computer-Based Testing and other digital services.

He explained that the establishment of the centres across the State would contribute to bridging the digital divide between urban and rural communities, while also making e-examinations more accessible and convenient for students, particularly those in underserved areas.

The Commissioner stressed that the Ministry would continue to monitor the projects from commencement through completion to ensure that public funds were judiciously utilised and that projects delivered to communities met the required quality and technical standards.

The MPPPME team had inspected 17 development projects in Bagwai Local Government Area, with a combined contract sum of ₦6,012,384,733.40.

The projects inspected covered various sectors and included the repair of two ARMCO culverts, supply and installation of solar-powered streetlights, renovation of schools, construction of a 5-kilometre dual-carriage road, construction of a neighbourhood security watch office, among other development interventions.

The team also visited the site of a dam project in Bagwai, inspected hand-pump boreholes and assessed several other ongoing projects across the local government area.

During the inspection, the Commissioner and the Ministry’s technical personnel examined the physical progress of the projects and interacted with contractors and other relevant stakeholders, reiterating the importance of delivering projects in accordance with approved designs, specifications, quality standards and contractual obligations.

The inspection is part of the Ministry’s ongoing project monitoring activities aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in public procurement, ensuring value for money and promoting the timely delivery of sustainable infrastructure for the people of Kano State.

The MPPPME, under the leadership of Comrade Nura Ma’aji Sumaila, has continued to intensify field inspections across the State to provide independent technical oversight and ensure that government projects translate into tangible development outcomes for communities.

It was contained in a statement issued by Ministry information officer Sagir Ado Abubukar where it was made available to Journalists.