The Lagos State Government has warned Nollywood actress Sarah Martins to stop cooking and distributing food on public roads in the state, citing violations of environmental and public order regulations.
The warning was issued on Saturday by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a message shared on his official X account.
In the statement, Wahab said the government had taken notice of Martins’ recent activities of cooking meals and distributing them to people on the streets of Lagos, an initiative widely seen as a charitable outreach aimed at supporting vulnerable residents.
While acknowledging the philanthropic intent behind the gesture, the commissioner stressed that such activities cannot be carried out on public infrastructure, including roads, walkways and medians.
According to him, cooking or trading on these public spaces poses risks related to sanitation, safety and traffic management.
“We acknowledge and appreciate the spirit of charity and compassion behind what you are trying to do,” Wahab stated.
“However, carrying out such activities on public roads, walkways or medians is not permitted under Lagos environmental and public order regulations.”
The commissioner further disclosed that Martins had previously been cautioned about similar activities last year.
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He said the government had exercised restraint at the time because of the charitable motivation behind the effort.
Wahab, however, urged the actress to desist from repeating the action, warning that failure to comply could lead to apprehension and possible prosecution.
“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,” he said.
He added that the state government remains supportive of humanitarian initiatives but emphasized that such programmes must be conducted through approved channels and designated locations to ensure they comply with existing laws.
“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 or constituting environmental nuisance,” Wahab added.
The commissioner concluded by reiterating the state government’s commitment to enforcing regulations designed to maintain order, safety and environmental standards across Lagos.