Lagos Govt Cracks Down On Street Cooking, Warns Nollywood’s Sarah Martins

The Lagos State Government has formally warned Nollywood actress Sarah Martins to cease cooking and distributing food on public roads, cautioning that continued violations may result in arrest and prosecution.

According to Ireporter Online, the warning was issued on Saturday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement directed at the actress. Wahab acknowledged the charitable nature of Martins’ outreach to vulnerable residents but stressed that such activities on public roads, walkways, and medians contravene state environmental and public order regulations.

“While we appreciate the spirit of charity behind your actions, conducting such activities on public infrastructure is not permitted under Lagos environmental and public order laws,” Wahab stated. He explained that street cooking poses safety, sanitation, and traffic risks and recalled that Martins had been previously cautioned about the practice.

The commissioner urged Martins to redirect her humanitarian efforts through approved platforms and locations to ensure compliance with the law while still supporting those in need. “If you wish to continue your charitable outreach, it should be done through proper channels and in designated spaces so that your efforts can assist vulnerable residents without violating regulations,” he added.

Martins, a Nollywood actress and comedian known for her philanthropic activities and strong social media presence, recently attracted attention after videos showed her distributing food on Lagos streets. The warning follows a similar incident in October 2025, when the Kick Against Indiscipline task force apprehended her for cooking on a road median in Lekki, seizing her equipment in the process. Videos from that encounter circulated widely, showing the actress appearing distressed after sustaining a minor burn.

The controversy drew public discussion, including commentary from Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu. Martins had announced receiving ₦20 million purportedly from his office to support her charity, but Seyi Tinubu later clarified that the funds were raised by friends moved by her humanitarian work and that he did not support any unlawful activity.

The Lagos State Government has defended its enforcement actions, reiterating that while charitable intentions are recognized, street cooking on public infrastructure remains unauthorized and contravenes environmental and sanitation regulations.