Lagos govt argued that community-support initiatives, while appreciated, must comply with the state’s environmental laws.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Lagos State Government has justified the action of officers of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) after Nollywood actress, Sarah Martins, accused them of harassment and assault.
Taking to her Instagram page, the thespian alleged that the officers assaulted her while she was cooking outdoors as part of a community outreach exercise.
According to Sarah, they seized her cooking equipment, food supplies, and disrupted the charitable exercise.
She also posted a video showing her injured hand, expressing pain and disbelief over what she described as an unprovoked attack.
She wrote: “My heart aches. Today, as I was cooking free food for the vulnerable and homeless people on the streets of Lagos, like I always do, some uniformed men came there, harassed me, bullied me, and took away the food I was cooking, my cooking gas, and everything I was using.
“My only offense was serving love on a plate through my healthy meals. I am not a chef, and I do not cook for a living.”
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Responding to the claims in a statement on Friday, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, defended the actions of the KAI operatives, stating that the thespian’s activity violated state environmental regulations.
He explained that while the Lagos govt appreciates citizens who engage in charitable and community-support initiatives, such activities must comply with Lagos State’s environmental and sanitation laws.
“The individual in question claimed to be conducting charitable cooking activities on the road median, which unfortunately contravened existing environmental and sanitation regulations,” he said.
“The Lagos State Government deeply appreciates the spirit of philanthropy and community support demonstrated by many residents, but such initiatives must be carried out in compliance with the state’s extant laws to ensure public safety, environmental protection, and urban order,” Wahab added.
The commissioner noted that the enforcement was necessary to prevent potential safety hazards and traffic disruptions, urging residents to obtain proper authorization before carrying out similar public activities.
“Lagosians are encouraged to use designated spaces or seek necessary approvals for such activities so they can contribute positively without compromising the state’s standards,” he concluded.
