Lagos State Government has responded to the viral allegations made by Nollywood actress Sarah Martins, who accused operatives of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) of assaulting her during a community outreach programme in Lagos. The government insists that the actress violated environmental and sanitation laws while carrying out her charity initiative.
Sarah Martins had earlier taken to Instagram to allege that she was “harassed and manhandled” by KAI officials while cooking outdoors as part of a charity event aimed at feeding residents. Her post sparked outrage online, with fans and celebrities calling out the Lagos State Government for what they described as “abuse of power.”
However, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement released on Friday, refuted the claims, maintaining that the actress’s activity took place on a road median — a restricted area under state environmental laws. Wahab noted that the enforcement officers acted within their mandate to maintain order and public safety.
“The individual in question conducted a cooking exercise on the road median, which contravenes existing environmental and sanitation regulations,” Wahab said. “While the government appreciates charitable efforts, all such activities must comply with Lagos State laws to ensure public safety, environmental protection, and urban order.”
He emphasized that unauthorized use of public spaces for social events poses safety risks, obstructs traffic, and encourages environmental abuse. The commissioner reiterated that Lagos encourages philanthropy but insists that citizens must seek permission or use designated locations to carry out such public acts.
According to the Ministry of the Environment, the enforcement was not a personal attack but a necessary step to ensure that public health and urban regulations are upheld. The government also warned that future violations would attract stiffer penalties as part of its renewed campaign to keep Lagos clean, organized, and safe for residents.
Despite the government’s position, reactions continue to trail the incident, with many Nigerians urging both parties to find common ground. As of Saturday morning, Sarah Martins’ post had attracted over 20,000 comments, making it one of the most discussed social media topics in Nigeria this week.
