Lagos State Government has issued a formal warning to Nollywood actress Sarah Martins, directing her to cease cooking and distributing food on public roads and walkways. The directive, citing violations of state environmental and public order regulations, was communicated by Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, via his official social media platform on Saturday evening.
The commissioner acknowledged the charitable intent behind Martins’ actions but stated unequivocally that such activities are prohibited on public infrastructure. “Carrying out such activities on public roads, walkways or medians is not permitted under Lagos environmental and public order regulations,” Wahab wrote. He highlighted the associated risks, noting that cooking or trading on public infrastructure poses significant safety, sanitation, and traffic concerns.
The warning follows a previous caution issued to Martins for a similar activity in 2023. Commissioner Wahab disclosed that despite the earlier warning, the actress was permitted to continue at the time due to the philanthropic nature of her initiative and subsequent appeals. However, he stressed that this leniency would not be repeated. “I would strongly advise that you desist from carrying out street cooking or similar activities in public spaces in Lagos in order to avoid apprehension and prosecution,” the statement read.
The commissioner advised Martins to channel her humanitarian efforts through officially sanctioned locations and proper administrative channels. This, he explained, would allow her to support vulnerable residents while remaining compliant with the law. “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 environmental nuisance,” he stated.
In concluding his message, Wahab reinforced the government’s expectation of universal compliance with civic regulations. “We expect everyone to be law-abiding in Lagos, just as they would be in any other well-regulated city,” he said.
The incident underscores the tension between spontaneous philanthropic acts and the enforcement of civic regulations in densely populated urban centres like Lagos. While the government expressed appreciation for private initiatives aimed at assisting the vulnerable, it maintains that such efforts must align with established legal frameworks designed to maintain public order, hygiene, and safety for all residents. The warning serves as a reaffirmation of the state’s commitment to enforcing its environmental and public space laws without prejudice.
