Benin City, Nigeria

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are among the most consumed vegetables in Nigeria and constitute a vital component of human diets due to their high nutritional and economic value. This study investigated the microbial profiles of three tomato varieties: Beefsteak, Globe, and Roma sold in a selected market in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Standard microbiological techniques were employed for the isolation, enumeration and identification of both bacterial and fungal contaminants using Nutrient Agar, MacKonkey Agar, Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) Agar, and Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). The total viable bacterial counts varied among varieties, with Beefsteak tomatoes exhibiting the highest total aerobic bacterial count (5.0 ± 0.5×10³), Enteric bacterial count (15.0 ± 0.5×10³) and Coliform bacterial count(7.6 ± 0.5 ×10³) followed by Roma and Globe varieties (4.2 ± 0.5×10³, 9.2 ± 0.5×10³, 6.4 ± 0.5 ×10³) and (4.2 ± 0.5 ×10³, 3.2 ± 0.5×10³, 2.6 ± 0.5 ×10³) respectively. Identified bacterial isolates included Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while fungal isolates comprised Aspergillus niger, Penicillium expansum, Rhizopus stolonifer, and Fusarium oxysporum. The observed differences in microbial load were attributed to varietal characteristics such as texture, water content, and handling conditions. The results also revealed that poor post-harvest handling, unhygienic market environments, and the use of contaminated wash water contributed significantly to microbial contamination. It is recommended that vendors adopt improved hygiene, proper storage, and temperature control to reduce spoilage and ensure consumer safety.

Colistin, a "last-resort" antibiotic for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections, has seen increasing use, leading to the emergence of colistin-resistant strains.The primary aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of colistin-resistant Enterobacterales in composted manure samples collected from different farms in Benin City,Nigeria.This study was carried out in some selected poultry farms within Benin City,Nigeria .A cross-sectional study which involved collecting composted manure samples from each selected site using sterile containers.Samples were homogenized in buffered peptone water within 24 hours
post collection from the farm.The composted manure were cultured on Mac-Conkey agar plate and incubated at 370c for 18-24 hours.Isolates were identified based on colonial morphology,motility,lactose fermentation,Gram staining reaction andbiochemical tests(indole, citrate, oxidase and urease tests) The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Broth macrodilution was used to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of colistin in calcium enhanced mueller- Hinton broth (MIC ≤ 2). A total of 11 enterobacterales were isolated from 272 compost manure samples, consisting of 5 isolate of Escherichia coli, 3 isolates of klebsiella species, 2 isolate of proteus species and 1 isolate of providencia spp. Of the 5 E. coli samples isolated, 1(20%) showed collistin resistance. Of the 3 Klebsiella spp isolated none showed resistance
to colistin. 2 Proteus samples were isolated, all of which showed resistance to colistin. Only one isolate of Providencia was found and showed resistance to colistin in the single isolate found.The total prevalence of colistin resistance in isolatedenterobacterales was 4/11(36.4%).This study revealed a concerning prevalence of colistin resistance among Enterobacterales isolated from composted manure in Benin City,Nigeria, with resistance observed in key pathogens including E. coli,Proteus spp and Providencia spp. These findings highlight the critical role of environmental reservoirs in the spread of antibiotic resistance and underscore the potential public health implications, particularly in the context of last-resort treatments for multidrug-resistant infections

This study examined the relationship between workplace health and safety management practices and employee well-being in selected inter-state transportation companies in Benin City, Nigeria. The study adopted a mixed-method design, combining quantitative survey data with qualitative insights using interviews. The population of the study comprised eight hundred and eighty-eight (888) drivers of ten (10) selected transport companies in Benin City. The sample size was two hundred and seventy-five (275). Primary data for the study were collected using questionnaires and interviews. The data were analysed using both descriptive statistics (frequency distributions, percentages, means, and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (correlation and regression analysis) via SPSS version 25 at a 5% significance threshold, while thematic analysis was applied to analyse the interview responses. Findings revealed that safety training, safety compliance, protective measures, welfare schemes, and work fatigue control each had significant positive effects on different dimensions of employee well-being. The results indicated that employees who received structured training and protective equipment reported better physical and emotional health, while effective welfare schemes enhanced financial and mental well-being. Furthermore, control of work fatigue was shown to improve overall job satisfaction and reduce burnout. The study concluded that employee well-being in the transportation sector is strongly tied to proactive safety practices and welfare initiatives. It was further recommended that the transportation industry should enhance safety culture through regular communication of safety policies. Others include providing and maintaining protective measures, optimizing safety training and awareness, implementing comprehensive welfare schemes, and managing work fatigue effectively