Nollywood actress Sarah Martins has addressed the controversy surrounding her recent street cooking activity in Lagos, clarifying that the gesture was meant to reconnect with vulnerable children rather than violate environmental regulations.
The actress issued an open letter after the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, cautioned against cooking on public roads.
Martins explained that the meal preparation did not take place on the main street or pedestrian walkway as widely assumed.
“I would like to respectfully clarify that I did not cook on the walkway or on the main street. The meal was prepared in front of the King’s Palace under the supervision of security personnel and far from the main road, ensuring it did not obstruct movement or create any public nuisance,” she said.
According to the actress, the visit was an emotional decision driven by her long-standing relationship with vulnerable street children in the area.
“The visit was simply born out of an emotional moment. I had deeply missed the bond I share with the vulnerable street children in that area,” Martins explained.
She added that whenever she drove past the area, the children often asked her to return and cook with them as she used to do in the past.
“On this particular day, I decided to spend some time with them and prepare a meal, purely to reconnect and create memories with the kids who have always shown me genuine love,” she stated.
Martins also apologised for any misunderstanding that may have arisen from the incident and reaffirmed her respect for the environmental regulations of the Lagos State Government.
“If my actions were perceived as inappropriate in any way, I sincerely apologise. I hold the laws and environmental standards of Lagos State in the highest regard,” she said.
The actress further pledged that all future charitable cooking activities would take place at the designated kitchen facility provided for the Sarah Martins Golden Heart Foundation.
“Going forward, I will ensure that all cooking activities are carried out strictly within the charity kitchen provided for the foundation,” she noted.
Martins also expressed appreciation to Seyi Tinubu for supporting her foundation with a dedicated charity kitchen to facilitate organised feeding programmes.
“I do not take his generosity for granted, and my foundation has remained committed to using the charity kitchen for our regular feeding initiatives,” she added.
The clarification comes months after Martins was arrested in October 2025 by officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) while cooking on a road median in the Lekki area of Lagos. Her cooking equipment was seized during the operation.
The Lagos State Government had defended the action at the time, citing environmental and sanitation regulations aimed at maintaining order and cleanliness across the state.