Manny Ita –
The Lagos State Government has warned Nollywood actress Sarah Martins against conducting charity cooking activities on public roads, walkways, or medians across the state, reiterating that such acts violate environmental and public order regulations.
The warning comes four months after authorities apprehended the actress for a similar outreach programme in the Admiralty area of Lekki Phase 1 in Lagos.
In October 2025, officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC/KAI) arrested the actress for engaging in unauthorised activities on public infrastructure. Authorities cited provisions of the LAGESC/KAI law on street vending, which prohibits cooking or selling food on roads and sidewalks.
Despite the earlier warning, Ms Martins posted a video on her Instagram page on Friday showing herself cooking on a Lagos street during another outreach programme.
In the caption accompanying the video, the actress said she had missed the bond she shared with children living on the streets and decided to visit them again. She explained that they prepared what she described as “sumptuous delicacies” together during the outing.
“I was missing the bond I share with my kids in the street, so I paid them a visit, and we made a sumptuous delicacy together,” she wrote.
Reacting to the development, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the government had taken note of the actress’s renewed street cooking activity.
In a post on his X page on Saturday, Mr Wahab said the government recognised the charitable intentions behind her initiative but emphasised that such acts were not allowed under the state’s environmental and public order regulations.
“Dear Sarah Martins, I hope you are well. My attention has been drawn to your recent activity of cooking and distributing food on the streets of Lagos. While we acknowledge and appreciate the spirit of charity and compassion behind what you are trying to do, carrying out such activities on public roads, walkways or medians is not permitted under Lagos environmental and public order regulations,” he said.
He added that the practice poses safety, sanitation, and traffic risks and recalled that the actress had previously been cautioned about the issue.
“Cooking or trading on public infrastructure poses safety, sanitation and traffic concerns. You were previously cautioned about this same issue last year due to the understanding of its philanthropic intention and pleas,” Mr Wahab stated.
The commissioner advised the actress to refrain from conducting such activities in public spaces and urged her to pursue charitable outreach through approved channels and designated locations.
“I would strongly advise that you desist from carrying out street cooking or similar activities in public spaces in Lagos to avoid apprehension and prosecution. If you wish to continue your charitable outreach, it should be done through proper channels and in approved locations so that your efforts can support vulnerable people without violating existing laws and constituting an environmental nuisance,” he said.
Mr Wahab also reiterated the importance of residents complying with state laws, noting that Lagosians are expected to follow environmental regulations just as residents would in any well-regulated city.
Earlier reports indicated that after her arrest in 2025, Ms Martins said she received ₦20 million to support her charity initiative from Seyi Tinubu, the son of Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu.
In a video shared on her Instagram page at the time, a woman was seen presenting an envelope said to contain the money to the actress. Ms Martins explained that Mr Tinubu admired her humanitarian efforts and encouraged her to secure a proper shop where she could safely continue the initiative.
She also said he promised to equip the shop with appropriate industrial equipment once a suitable space was secured.
However, Mr Tinubu later clarified that the funds did not come from his personal account, stating that friends had raised the money to support the actress following her encounter with authorities.
“I have been informed that some friends of mine, moved by compassion, raised funds to support a young woman who had an encounter with the law over an environmental violation. Their intention, I believe, was to help her secure a proper space to run her business, not to undermine the law. I appreciate their kindness and concern,” he wrote on his Instagram Story.
Ms Martins, who hails from Imo State, began her acting career in 2004 but later gained public attention for her charity-driven street cooking initiative aimed at feeding vulnerable children. She has featured in several Nollywood films including “The Widows,” “Dangerous Mad Man,” “The Gods Are Wise,” “Family Lies,” and “Feast of the Spirits.”
