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WhatsApp has rolled out new security features aimed at giving users greater control over their accounts and reducing the risk of unauthorised access.

The new measures include an upgraded two-step verification system, additional information for calls from unknown numbers and expanded support for passkeys.

The messaging platform said its two-step verification feature had been strengthened by moving beyond the traditional six-digit PIN to allow users to create longer passwords containing letters, numbers and special characters.

According to WhatsApp, the additional layer of protection is designed to make it more difficult for unauthorised individuals to take control of an account, even if they obtain a user’s one-time verification code.

The company has also introduced more information for calls from unknown numbers.

It said Android users would now receive additional context about callers who are not saved in their contacts before deciding whether to answer.

The information may show whether the caller is using a number registered in another country or belongs to a WhatsApp group shared with the recipient.

WhatsApp said the security features were designed to help users assess unfamiliar calls and decide whether to answer them.

The company also announced that more than one billion people had adopted passkeys for their WhatsApp accounts.

Passkeys allow users to authenticate and recover access to their accounts using biometric methods, including fingerprints and facial recognition, or their device screen-lock code.

WhatsApp said users could now add multiple passkeys to a single account, which could be useful for people who use both Android and iOS devices.

Users can access the passkey option through Settings > Account > Passkeys.

The company said it would continue to develop security features to help users protect their accounts and private conversations.

WhatsApp added that end-to-end encryption remains enabled by default, meaning messages and calls are protected so that only the participants can access their content.

The Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT) has urged politicians and public office holders to emulate Prophet Muhammad’s approach to leadership and governance to address the challenges of insecurity, poverty, and corruption in the country.

The society’s Chief Missioner, Sheikh Abdul-Azeez Maruf Onike, also advised public office holders to shun corruption and refrain from breaching the public trust, stressing that they would be held accountable for their stewardship on the Day of Judgment.

Onike spoke at an event marking the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), held at the Muslim Community Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday.

He described Mawlid as a sacred moment for spiritual awakening and moral rejuvenation, saying the Prophet, an epitome of mercy and noble character, provided humanity with an enduring model of compassionate leadership, integrity, justice, and peaceful coexistence.

Speaking on the lessons of the celebration, Onike said Nigerians were capable of distinguishing between good and bad but often failed to act on that knowledge because of excessive attachment to worldly possessions.

‘We all know what the good and bad virtues are. Many of us are deliberately avoiding them because of the excessive love of this world.

‘We know how to imbibe good culture if we want to because we make choices that suit our tastes. We can easily differentiate between good and bad.

‘We know what is beneficial and destructive to us. That is why we remind ourselves because human beings are forgetful. The Prophet says you are not a believer until you love for others what you love for yourselves,’ he said.

Speaking ahead of the 2027 general elections, Onike urged political leaders to be prudent in the management of public funds and remain accountable to the people, warning that they would ultimately account for their stewardship on the Day of Judgment.

He said, ‘Many of the country’s leaders will regret putting themselves forward for public office. The position is held in trust for the people, but many of them have breached this trust because of the love of this world.’

The President of NASFAT, Alhaji Ayodeji AbdulWahid AbdulRauf, described the celebration as a golden opportunity for Nigerians to rediscover the Prophet’s legacy and translate his teachings into peaceful living.

AbdulRauf urged citizens, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections, to uphold civility and respect across political differences.

He stressed that political contests were temporary, while family bonds, friendships, brotherhood, and national unity remained enduring values.

Also speaking, the NASFAT Lagos Zone 1 Imam, Imam Uthman Jaji Muhammad, described Prophet Muhammad as a perfect example for humanity and world leaders.

He urged Muslims to study and emulate the Prophet’s teachings and conduct, saying this was essential to achieving success in this life and the hereafter.

‘As Muslims, we need to study and emulate the teachings and habits of the Prophet, which are contained in the Quran, to have a successful life and the hereafter,’ he said.

The guest lecturer, Imam Ibrahim Dan Nahibi, described Prophet Muhammad as the best of mankind, the seal of the prophets, a worthy co-traveller, and an intercessor on the Day of Judgment.

He said the Prophet’s character, honesty, and compassion enabled him to win the hearts of even non-believers, stressing that he was neither a warmonger nor a violent leader.

‘Muhammad is the best of mankind, the seal of the prophets, a worthy co-traveller and an intercessor on the Day of Judgment.

‘Prophet Muhammad was sent to the entire world, and he is a mercy to all mankind,’ he said.

Dan Nahibi urged Muslims to emulate the Prophet’s good character, particularly in family and leadership responsibilities.

‘Husbands should be good to their wives, and wives should also be good to their husbands. If you are a leader, lead with the fear of Allah and be mindful of all your deeds, for you will be accountable for them on the Day of Judgment,’ he said.

Stakeholders in the global film industry are celebrating a major cinematic milestone following the official completion of Asiri Ilu Awon Osu (Mystery of Osu Land), Parts one and two.

Co-created by Mysterious Tech Studio (MTS) and prominent Yoruba Nollywood actress, Tanwa Hameed (Asake Omogbajumo), the project is celebrated as the world’s first photorealistic and longest Yoruba feature film powered by artificial intelligence.

Running for over three hours, the sci-fi epic utilises a pioneering hybrid model – 80 percent of its visuals were generated using advanced AI tools, while the remaining 20 percent relies on human direction and live-action performances.

Developed over three intensive months of production between June and September 2025, the Yoruba language film explores themes of society, power, and humanity through a distinct African cultural lens.

The project’s journey included a bid for formal historical documentation.

In October 2025, the filmmakers submitted Asiri Ilu Awon Osu to Guinness World Records under a newly proposed category for the longest cinematic film co-created by AI and a human director.

Following a three-month review process, Guinness declined the application on January 27, 2026.

The rejection was purely administrative, with Guinness stating that the specific record category has not yet been formally established.

The filmmakers remain unfazed by the decision.

‘The title rejection does not change reality,’ they stated in a joint release. ‘The film exists. It was completed. And it was done first.

‘Bypassing institutional validation, Mysterious Tech Studio plans to forge ahead with a global release for public audiences, critics, researchers, and innovators.

The creators emphasise that the hybrid film is not meant to replace human actors or traditional cinema. Instead, it serves as a powerful proof of concept, demonstrating how indie filmmakers in regions lacking high-budget infrastructure can use AI to bypass expensive equipment and large crew requirements.

By seamlessly blending human voices, storytelling, and direction with state-of-the-art AI imagery, the film proves that innovation and cultural tradition can thrive together.

The landmark film is scheduled to debut on major streaming platforms soon.

Nigeria’s economic debate is shifting away from fuel subsidies, with economists and development experts warning that poverty and extreme wealth concentration pose deeper threats to growth and stability.

They argue that while subsidy reforms have dominated policy discussions, the widening gap between a small wealthy elite and millions struggling for basic needs is what is actually holding back progress.

Bongo Adi, a distinguished Professor of Economics at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, said Nigeria, as a developmental state, should adopt problem-driven iterative adaptation in policy formulation, rather than rigid one-track positions.

He explained that countries oriented towards developmentalism change course when evidence demands it, re-evaluating policies to deliver the greatest good for the largest number of people.

Adi identified high poverty and inequality as the core issues. ‘Nigeria has reappeared as the poverty capital of the world. So when you have 165 million living below the poverty line, that is really a cause for concern,’ he said. Linked to this is extreme wealth concentration.

Drawing on Thomas Piketty’s ‘Capital in the 21st Century’, Adi noted that when the rate of return on capital exceeds the rate of economic growth, wealth concentrates further in few hands. This leads to underutilisation of assets, such as high vacancy rates in properties built not for occupation but as stores of value.

He observed that during earlier periods of high growth averaging seven percent for a decade and foreign reserves around $67 billion, subsidy was not a major problem and poverty was lower. Current macroeconomic stabilisation, with reserves rising toward $55 billion, is positive, yet the deeper structural problems remain.

On AIT’s Kakaaki programme, Dr Baba Yusuf, president of the Nigerian Economic Society, emphasised institutional arrangements and transparency: ‘The more important questions are: Who benefits from it? How much does it cost? Who administers it? How is it monitored? What prevents diversion? Does it achieve its intended social and economic purpose?’ Subsidy policies must serve citizens rather than narrow interests.

He noted that declining purchasing power affects households and businesses alike. Macroeconomic indicators may be improving, but they must be sustained and coordinated with microeconomic realities so that stability reaches firms, workers and households. All tiers of government-federal, state and local-must act in concert, Musa stated.

He stressed that economic recovery must move beyond statistics to higher production, employment, stronger purchasing power and better living conditions.

He called for a tradable economic policy focused on goods and services that can be sold domestically and internationally-agricultural products, processed foods, manufactures, textiles, pharmaceuticals, digital and creative services-rather than exporting raw materials and importing finished goods.

Musa said sound governance-transparency, accountability, competence, continuity and responsible use of public resources-is the foundation of growth. Investors require clear rules, predictable taxes, reliable infrastructure and effective institutions.

Low production, driven by unreliable electricity, high transport costs, expensive credit, poor infrastructure, insecurity and inconsistent policies, keeps the country import-dependent and inflation-prone.

The solution lies in expanding productive capacity through factories, farms, processing facilities and technology businesses.

With about 3.5 million young people entering the labour market each year, government employment alone cannot absorb them. The private sector in manufacturing, agriculture, construction, technology, logistics and creative industries must expand.

Dr Ayinde O. Ayinde, a researcher at Covenant University, Ota, argued that the question is not simply removal or restoration of subsidy. Reversal without fiscal discipline and safeguards risks resurrecting rent-seeking, while retention without social protection and productive investment risks household impoverishment.

‘The intellectually superior pathway is therefore neither unconditional removal nor nostalgic restoration, but a transparent, targeted and fiscally sustainable energy-pricing compact, underpinned by productivity, competition, social protection and accountability.’

Prince Adewole Adebayo, presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party for the 2027 elections, speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association conference, said the subsidy debate is no longer the central issue.

‘Subsidy is like giving somebody a scholarship to a university that does not exist. The scholarship is useless,’ he stated. Priority should shift to affordable petroleum products, lower energy costs, a stable exchange rate and measures that raise productive capacity.

The experts collectively insist that Nigeria must move beyond the politics of cheap versus expensive fuel toward the economics of affordable prosperity, where citizens earn real incomes, enterprises become competitive, and every reform yields measurable developmental dividends.

The bearish run in the Nigerian equities market deepened on Wednesday as sustained profit-taking across major stocks pushed the NGX All-Share Index down 0.17 per cent, wiping N259.77 billion off investors’ wealth.

The benchmark index closed at 238,682.92 basis points, extending its decline and pulling the year-to-date return lower to 53.38 per cent. Market capitalisation also fell to N154.14 trillion from N154.40 trillion recorded in the previous session.

The latest decline marked another session of weak investor sentiment, with market breadth settling at 0.4x as 41 stocks recorded losses against 17 gainers.

Profit-taking was particularly pronounced in key banking, consumer and industrial stocks. Zenith Bank fell 2.1 per cent, Jaiz Bank declined 7.7 per cent, while Fidson Healthcare and Oando dropped 10 per cent and three per cent respectively.

On the positive side of the performance chart, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals gained 9.7 per cent to lead the advancers, while NEM Insurance rose 6.7 per cent. Regency Alliance Insurance, Linkage Assurance and UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust also recorded notable gains.

Fidson Healthcare and FTN Cocoa led the decliners, falling 10 per cent and 9.9 per cent respectively, while International Energy Insurance, Livestock Feeds and Omatek were also among the major losers.

The broad-based selling pressure was reflected across four major sectors. The Insurance index declined 0.94 per cent, Banking fell 0.41 per cent, Consumer Goods dropped 0.28 per cent, while Oil and Gas shed 0.11 per cent. The Industrial Goods index closed flat.

Despite the weakness in prices, trading activity improved significantly, suggesting that investors remained active amid the sell-off.

Total volume traded rose 9.7 per cent to 733.35 million shares, while market turnover surged 44.9 per cent to N34.52 billion. The number of deals also increased 7.23 per cent to 49,210 transactions.

Fortis Global Insurance emerged as the most actively traded stock by volume, accounting for 134.01 million shares, while First HoldCo dominated trading by value with transactions worth N11.06 billion.

The latest decline pushed the market’s month-to-date return to negative 2.7 per cent, although the equities market has retained a strong 53.4 per cent gain since the beginning of the year.

Market analysts expect the bearish pressure to persist in the near term as investors continue to lock in gains following the market’s strong first-half and early third-quarter rally.

The Aminchi Centre for Social Advocacy and Community Development on Wednesday criticized the 14-day ultimatum issued by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) to the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), over the worsening insecurity in Sokoto State.

MURIC, through its Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, had demanded that the Defence Minister ‘stop the killings’ in Sokoto within 14 days or resign.

Reacting in a statement titled ‘MURIC’s 14-Day Ultimatum: A Call for Responsibility, Not Scapegoating,’ the Chairman and CEO of the Aminchi Centre, Brahim Abdullahi Shuni, said while MURIC had every right to demand protection for Nigerians, its decision to single out the Defence Minister failed to recognise the country’s constitutional and institutional security structure.

Shuni said the Federal Ministry of Defence was a complex institution involving civilian administrative structures, Defence Headquarters, the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, and other defence institutions.

He argued that it was therefore misleading to portray the Minister as personally commanding every soldier or having the unilateral power to prevent every attack across the country.

‘National security is a system. It requires the coordinated efforts of the Presidency, Armed Forces, Police, intelligence agencies, state governments, local governments, traditional institutions, communities and citizens,’ he said.

According to him, the Minister of Defence is responsible for defence policy, strategic direction, oversight, resource mobilisation, procurement, administration, welfare, and institutional coordination, but is not the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

He cited Section 218 of the 1999 Constitution, which, according to the statement, vests the President, as Commander-in-Chief, with the power to determine the operational use of the Armed Forces and to appoint the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs.

Shuni said the responsibility for tackling insecurity should consequently not be reduced to one individual.

He also challenged MURIC and other civil society organisations to complement their criticism of the government with concrete contributions towards addressing insecurity.

‘Criticism must be accompanied by constructive responsibility,’ he said, asking what intelligence MURIC had supplied to security agencies, how many criminal networks it had helped expose, and how many communities it had mobilised for early-warning mechanisms.

The group also questioned why MURIC’s ultimatum was directed solely at the Defence Minister rather than the broader security architecture, including the President, Service Chiefs, police, intelligence agencies, state government, local governments, community leaders, and citizens.

‘If MURIC genuinely believes that insecurity is a national emergency, then the answer cannot logically be to isolate one member of a much larger security architecture and threaten him with resignation,’ Shuni said.

He warned that such an approach could turn a national security crisis into ‘a political or personality contest.’

However, the Aminchi Centre stressed that its position should not be interpreted as opposition to accountability.

Shuni said the Defence Minister, Armed Forces, and other security agencies must be held accountable for responsibilities legally assigned to them, but insisted that such accountability should be based on law, facts, institutional responsibility, and measurable performance.

He also described MURIC’s demand that Sokoto become ‘impregnable and unassailable’ within 14 days as unrealistic.

‘No serious security professional can responsibly guarantee that no terrorist, bandit or criminal will ever attack a particular location within a specified period,’ he said.

Instead, he said security performance should be assessed by improvements in intelligence gathering, prevention of attacks, degradation of criminal networks, rescue of victims, protection of vulnerable communities, prosecution of offenders, and strengthening of the national security architecture.

The organisation called on MURIC to consider constructive engagement with the Ministry of Defence and other security institutions, including supporting community intelligence, early-warning systems, cooperation between religious leaders and security agencies, victim support, and efforts to discourage the recruitment and glorification of criminals.

Shuni further defended Gen. Musa, describing him as ‘a son of the soil of the seat of the Caliphate’ who spent much of his early life in the area and had contributed to community development.

He said the appropriate response to insecurity was stronger intelligence, better coordination, adequate resources, effective leadership, professional military operations, community cooperation, responsible governance, and citizen participation.

‘General Christopher Gwabin Musa should therefore be judged on the responsibilities assigned to his office, the resources available to him, the constitutional chain of command and measurable results-not on an artificial 14-day ultimatum issued by a civil society organisation,’ he said.

The centre also maintained that MURIC was entitled to express its opinion but lacked the constitutional authority to determine the tenure of a federal minister.

According to Shuni, the appointment and removal of ministers remain matters for the President and the constitutional processes of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He concluded by urging Nigerians to shift the debate from blame to collective responsibility.

‘The real challenge before all Nigerians is therefore not ‘Who should we blame?’ It is ‘What can each of us do to help Nigeria defeat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and violent crime?”

‘Security is everybody’s business,’ he added.

Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has reached out to aggrieved members of the party, urging cooperation and support ahead of the 2027 general election.

The party particularly appealed to aspirants who lost out at the party’s primaries to work for the success of the party in next year’s general election, stressing that the party could only achieve success if all members worked in unity.

The Edo State Chairman of the party, Mr. David Olukoga, made the appeal in Benin City at an enlarged stakeholders meeting of the party.

Olukoga, who also used the occasion to unveil the candidates of the party for the 2027 National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections, urged all aggrieved members to seek legal redress instead of working to undermine the party’s chances at the polls.

This was as he hinted that the party wanted to start focusing on how to win the election instead of dissipating energy on resolving the post-primaries crisis.

‘The main issue is for the party to win elections and not for individuals to start fighting over positions. We have to move on. Nobody is perfect. I have my shortcomings. We are here to appeal to our members to please take things easy.

‘We will continue to appeal. Primaries have come and gone. But there are still issues. We are following the peaceful process so that we can resolve.

‘Some persons want to proceed to fight for their right. We appeal to them to follow due process and through legal process. Violence cannot give you any mandate except through legal redress. If you are not satisfied, seek legal redress, you can have it back through legal means.’ He pleaded

Olukoga warned that ‘Insulting and fighting leaders on various platforms will not be accepted. Elections are closed, but we are yet to resolve issues. We appeal to you, most especially the aspirants.

‘The primaries have come and gone. Most of us are aggrieved. I am appealing to you to look inward and let us move on so that we can succeed in the next election.

‘The main goal is to capture Nigeria back so that institutions can work and not individuals. We need someone who is not in this cartel.

‘The only person we see is Peter Obi. I am sure by the time we leave this hall, we should settle ourselves,’ he enthused.

The Edo Central Senatorial Leader, Peter Ojeimen, who apologised on behalf of the party, said the party would produce the next governor of Edo.

The leader of the party in Edo North, Dr. Sylva Afetu Oshiokpekhai, called for unity and urged party members to begin house-to-house campaigns.

Several suspected terrorists were reportedly killed on Wednesday after security forces repelled an attempt to overrun a military barracks in Sifawa, Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The attackers were said to have stormed the area at about 10am from Horo village in neighbouring Shagari Local Government Area, before attempting to advance towards the military facility in Sifawa.

Security sources said soldiers and police personnel stationed in the community responded swiftly and engaged the attackers in a prolonged gun battle, eventually forcing them to retreat.

A resident, who witnessed the incident, said two soldiers sustained injuries during the exchange of gunfire and were subsequently evacuated to a hospital for medical attention.

‘The security personnel fought bravely and resisted the attackers. The gun battle lasted for some time before the terrorists were forced to withdraw,’ the resident said.

The source added that several of the attackers were believed to have been killed during the confrontation, while others fled into surrounding millet farms in an attempt to escape the advancing security forces.

A security source further disclosed that military air operations were underway in the surrounding bushes where the fleeing terrorists were believed to have taken refuge, with a ground operation expected to follow to flush them out.

The incident also reportedly disrupted movement along the Sifawa-Birnin Kebbi road, leaving motorists and commuters stranded for several hours as security forces battled the attackers and secured the area.

Residents and motorists who witnessed the confrontation commended the security personnel for their response, describing the resistance as crucial in preventing the attackers from gaining access to the military facility.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the military, police or Sokoto State Government on the incident or the reported casualties.

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has revealed that the only way opposition parties seeking to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election can do so is by forming a strong coalition.

Primate Ayodele gave the advice in a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, warning that the opposition could struggle to defeat the President if it fails to unite around a credible political platform.

According to the cleric, Tinubu has already positioned himself ahead of his potential challengers and is preparing for his bid for a second term in office.

He said, ‘Tinubu has prepared for a second term and has gone ahead of everyone. What they need to do now is form a coalition if they want to win this election. That’s the easy answer.’

Ayodele, however, alleged that the President’s camp could attempt to undermine any opposition alliance by infiltrating it.

‘Tinubu will still form his own coalition inside them by using moles. There are two presidential candidates in the opposition that have been settled already to scatter the coalition,’ he said.

He advised opposition parties to avoid forming an unwieldy alliance involving every political group, urging them instead to bring together four or five parties with similar political interests and clearly defined manifestos.

‘It will not be every party coalition; they should join the best parties together and form a strong coalition. Only about four or five parties together, and they must understand their manifesto. They don’t need much talk to win Tinubu; they only need a few things, but if they want to take him for granted, Tinubu will render them useless. Only like minds can remove Tinubu.’

The cleric further cautioned the opposition against underestimating Tinubu, saying a focused and coordinated strategy would be necessary if the parties intend to challenge the President successfully in 2027.

Typhoid fever is an infection caused by Salmonella Typhi, a bacterium that can spread when food or water becomes contaminated with human faeces. This makes everyday food handling an important part of preventing the disease.

In Nigerian homes, where food may be prepared in large quantities and stored for several hours, simple mistakes such as using contaminated water, handling cooked food with unwashed hands or allowing raw and ready-to-eat foods to come into contact can create opportunities for contamination.

Preventing typhoid therefore begins in the kitchen. Safe food preparation, proper hand hygiene, thorough cooking, clean water and appropriate food storage can significantly reduce opportunities for the bacteria to spread.

In this article, Tribune Online explores how you can safely prevent typhoid in your household.

Wash your hands before handling food

Hands can transfer harmful bacteria from contaminated surfaces, toilets, raw food and other sources directly to food. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and clean running water before preparing food, before eating and after using the toilet. Hands should also be washed after changing nappies, handling rubbish, cleaning dirty surfaces and touching raw meat.

Do not handle cooked food immediately after using the toilet without washing your hands properly.

A person carrying Salmonella Typhi can contaminate food through poor hand hygiene, even when they do not appear sick. Good hand hygiene is therefore one of the most important barriers between contamination and the food eventually eaten by the household.

Keep raw and cooked foods separate

Cross-contamination is a major food-safety concern. Raw meat, poultry and other uncooked foods can carry harmful microorganisms. If a knife or cutting board used for raw food is then used for vegetables, fruit or cooked food without proper washing, bacteria can be transferred to food that may not receive further cooking.

Use separate utensils where possible. If the same cutting board must be used, wash it thoroughly with soap and clean water before using it for another food.

Do not place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat unless the plate has been properly washed. The same principle applies to knives, countertops, bowls and other kitchen equipment.

Use safe water for cooking and washing food

Contaminated water can introduce Salmonella Typhi into food. Use water that is known to be safe for drinking and food preparation. Where the safety of the water supply is uncertain, treat the water appropriately before using it for drinking, cooking or preparing food. This is particularly important when washing foods that will be eaten raw.

Do not assume that apparently clear water is necessarily safe. Water can contain disease-causing microorganisms without any obvious change in colour, smell or taste.

Safe water should also be used when making ice, preparing drinks and washing utensils that will come into contact with food.

Cook food thoroughly

Thorough cooking is an important defence against foodborne bacteria. Food should be cooked properly rather than only heated on the surface. Large pieces of meat and thick foods need enough time for heat to reach the centre. When reheating previously cooked food, heat it thoroughly before serving. Avoid repeatedly warming and cooling the same food.

The commonly cited 70°C figure should not be treated as a universal rule for every food. Safe cooking temperatures depend on the type of food and the method being used. What matters is ensuring that food reaches a temperature sufficient to destroy harmful microorganisms throughout the portion.

Wash fruits and vegetables properly

Fresh produce can become contaminated before it reaches the kitchen or while it is being handled at home.

Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with safe water before eating or cutting them, particularly when they will be consumed raw. Pay attention to produce that will be eaten without cooking, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and fruits.

Washing does not make contaminated produce completely risk-free, but it can help remove dirt and microorganisms from the surface. Where the safety of the water is questionable, it should not be used to wash food that will be eaten raw.

Keep cooked food covered

Cooked food should not be left exposed unnecessarily. Cover food after preparation and keep it protected from flies, dust, dirty hands and other potential sources of contamination. This is particularly important when food is being served outdoors or in areas where flies are common.

Do not leave serving spoons inside food containers where they can be touched repeatedly. Use clean utensils for serving and avoid allowing people to handle food directly.

Store leftovers safely

Food can become unsafe when it is left at room temperature for too long.

After a meal, leftovers should be handled promptly and stored appropriately rather than being left uncovered for several hours. Large quantities of hot food should not simply be left to cool slowly for an extended period.

Divide large portions into smaller containers where appropriate so they can cool more efficiently before refrigeration. Keep refrigerated foods properly chilled and avoid repeatedly removing them from the refrigerator and leaving them at room temperature.

Keep kitchen surfaces and utensils clean

A clean kitchen reduces opportunities for bacteria to move from one food or surface to another.

Wash knives, cutting boards, plates, pots and other utensils after use, particularly after contact with raw food.

Kitchen counters should also be cleaned regularly, especially after preparing raw meat. Sponges and cloths can harbour microorganisms when they remain damp and dirty. Wash and dry reusable cleaning materials properly and replace them when they become difficult to clean.

Protect food from flies and other pests

Flies can move between contaminated waste, faeces and food.Keep food covered and dispose of household waste properly. Use covered bins and clean areas where food is prepared.

Windows and doors should be protected with appropriate screens where practical, particularly in areas with heavy fly activity. Do not leave cooked food uncovered on kitchen counters for long periods. Reducing contact between flies and food limits opportunities for contamination.