Lagos State Warns Nollywood Actress Sarah Martins Over Cooking on Public Roads

The Lagos State Government has issued a warning to Nollywood actress Sarah Martins regarding her recent act of cooking meals and sharing food with people on public roads within the state. Authorities explained that such activities breach established environmental and public order regulations governing the use of public infrastructure in Lagos.

The caution was communicated by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab. He delivered the message through a statement shared on his verified account on the social media platform X on Saturday evening.

According to the commissioner, the government became aware of a video and reports showing the actress preparing food and distributing meals directly on the streets of Lagos. While acknowledging that the intention behind the activity appeared charitable and compassionate, Wahab stressed that the method used to carry out the initiative violates state regulations that govern sanitation, traffic management, and the use of public infrastructure.

In his message, Wahab stated that although the government recognizes and appreciates acts of kindness aimed at assisting vulnerable residents, cooking and distributing food on public roads, pedestrian walkways, or road medians is not permitted under the environmental and public order laws enforced in Lagos State. He explained that the use of such public spaces for cooking or trading could create safety hazards, sanitation problems, and traffic disruptions.

The commissioner further pointed out that this was not the first time the actress had been cautioned regarding similar conduct. According to him, the state government had previously raised concerns about the same issue last year. At the time, however, officials allowed the activity to continue after taking into consideration the humanitarian motive behind the initiative and appeals made on her behalf.

Despite that earlier leniency, Wahab noted that repeated occurrences of the activity could not be ignored. He therefore urged the actress to immediately stop preparing food or conducting related charitable activities on public streets or other restricted areas across the state. The commissioner warned that failure to comply with the directive could lead to arrest and possible prosecution under existing environmental regulations.

In addition, Wahab advised that charitable initiatives intended to support less-privileged individuals should be carried out through officially approved channels and in designated locations. By doing so, individuals and organizations would be able to continue their philanthropic work without breaching state environmental laws or creating public disturbances.

He emphasized that proper coordination with relevant authorities ensures that aid reaches vulnerable members of society safely and efficiently while maintaining public order. Conducting such activities in approved spaces would also help reduce the environmental impact and avoid sanitation concerns that might arise from cooking or trading along busy roads.

The commissioner concluded by reiterating the importance of respecting the law and maintaining order within the state. He stated that every resident and visitor in Lagos is expected to comply with the same regulations that apply in other organized and well-regulated cities around the world.