By Desire Emmanuel
A lady who was warned last year by the Lagos State government to desist from cooking on the road median has returned to the same spot, carrying out the same act.
Last year, the lady, Sarah Martins, who said she is “an actress and a philanthropist,” was in the news when she brought out cooking utensils and started cooking on the road median and distributing the food at the Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, saying she was carrying out charitable activities.
Following the furore her action generated, the lady was apprehended by officials from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, popularly known as Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) while her cooking utensils, gas cylinder and food items were seized.
However, a few months after the incident, the lady has again returned to the area, carrying out the act which she described as “cooking for charity.”
Her cooking activities have again got to the attention of the Lagos State government which urged her to desist from doing the cooking on the road median.
The government gave the warning through the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who said on his verified X handle on Saturday night that the government would not tolerate her activities.
The statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to your recent activity of cooking and distributing food on the streets of Lagos.
“While we acknowledge and appreciate the spirit of charity and compassion behind what you are trying to do, carrying out such activities on public roads, walkways or medians is not permitted under Lagos environmental and public order regulations. Cooking or trading on public infrastructure poses safety, sanitation and traffic concerns.
“You were previously cautioned about this same issue last year due to the understanding of its philanthropic intention and pleas. 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.
“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.
“We expect everyone to be law-abiding in Lagos, just as they would be in any other well-regulated city. Thank you for your understanding.”
