Nollywood actress Sarah Martins has addressed the warning issued by the Lagos State Government over her recent public cooking activity, insisting the gesture was meant to reconnect with disadvantaged children rather than violate environmental regulations.

The clarification followed comments by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who on Saturday cautioned the actress against cooking on public roads. The commissioner warned that any repeat of the act could lead to arrest and possible prosecution.

Reacting in an open letter shared on her Instagram page on Sunday, Martins explained that the cooking did not take place on a walkway or roadside as alleged. According to her, the meal was prepared in front of a king’s palace under the watch of security personnel and far from the main road.

“I want to respectfully state that I did not cook on the walkway or along the main road,” she wrote. “The meal was prepared in front of the King’s Palace and the activity was supervised by security officers. It was also located far from the road, so it did not obstruct movement or cause any public disturbance.”

The actress, who runs the Sarah Martins Golden Heart Foundation, said the decision to cook for the children came from an emotional place, explaining that she had missed spending time with them.

She said the children, whom she often sees when driving through the area, frequently ask her to return and cook for them as she had done in the past.

“My visit that day was simply emotional. I had missed the bond I share with the vulnerable children around that area,” she wrote. “Whenever I pass that axis, they usually beg me to come back and cook with them like before. On that particular day, I decided to stop and spend time with them, preparing a meal just to reconnect and share a moment together.”

Martins also apologised to the Lagos State Government if her actions were misunderstood, stressing that she respects the state’s environmental and sanitation regulations.

She said the activity was never meant to create a nuisance or violate any law, but was purely a compassionate gesture toward the children.

“If my actions were seen as inappropriate in any way, I sincerely apologise,” she wrote. “I hold the laws and environmental standards of Lagos State in high regard. Going forward, all cooking activities will be carried out strictly within the charity kitchen provided for my foundation.”

The actress also expressed appreciation to Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, noting that a charity kitchen donated to her foundation was meant to ensure that her feeding programme is conducted in a structured environment.

Newsmaxng recalls that Martins was arrested by officials of the Lagos State Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) task force in October 2025 while cooking on a road median in Lekki. At the time, authorities confiscated her cooking equipment.

The state government defended the action, with Wahab stating that the actress had carried out unauthorised activities on public infrastructure in violation of environmental laws.

Martins had earlier claimed she received about ₦20 million from Seyi Tinubu’s office to support her charity work. However, Tinubu later clarified that he did not personally make the donation, explaining that some associates who were moved by her humanitarian efforts contributed funds to help her secure a proper space for the programme. He also maintained that he does not support activities that contravene Lagos State regulations.