Nollywood actress Sarah Martins has taken her outreach beyond Nigeria’s borders, distributing 150 packs of food to homeless people in Ottawa, Canada, just weeks after a confrontation with Lagos environmental officers during a similar act of charity.
The actress, who shared a video of the outreach on her Instagram page, said she decided to continue her gesture of kindness while in Canada. “From going grocery shopping, to cooking with the CEO of @suyaroyale under the supervision of @ricci_products representatives, to sharing the sumptuous, well-spiced 150 packs of food with homeless people on the streets of Ottawa,” she wrote in the caption accompanying the video.
Unlike her last outreach in Lagos—where she was reportedly apprehended by officers of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) task force for allegedly violating sanitation rules—Sarah was seen cooking indoors before taking the food to the streets for distribution in Canada.
The video, which captured lines of people patiently waiting to receive food, sparked mixed reactions among social media users. While some praised her consistency in showing compassion across borders, others questioned the contrast between her actions in Nigeria and her approach abroad.
One user, MarvellousIsra3, commented, “This is what happens when tribalism and ethnic jingoism becloud our sense of judgment. They humiliated her for showing kindness at home, now she’s being celebrated abroad for the same act.”
Another user, Real_Giilo, noted the irony, saying, “See as oyinbo line up dey collect jollof.”
Some Nigerians, however, criticised the actress for changing her style of outreach. SemiNigerian reacted, “So she can actually cook it in her house and pack it in bags to share? Meanwhile, she was constituting a nuisance by cooking on the streets of Lagos. Smh.”
Others viewed her gesture as a positive transformation. Callmetunde commented, “From Lagos street drama to Canadian food hero to blessing the streets level up unlocked.”
The actress had earlier alleged that officers in Lagos assaulted her while she was distributing food to the needy, prompting the Lagos State Government to issue a statement confirming her apprehension but insisting she violated environmental safety regulations.
