AMPEF-Voice Of The Voiceless

13/05/2025

Human Rights Advocate Urges the FG to Monitor the Activities of Ikeja Electricity and Others on 'Consumer Rights' in Lagos State

The privatized power holdings over time have employed the use of underhanded tactics to exploit their consumers, especially those in the rural area of Lagos State. It is said that inflated bills while there is poor electricity distribution have persisted for too long in the rural areas of the country (Lagos in particular) and must be addressed by the federal government—Minister of Power Chief Adedayo Adelabu—to curb the excesses of the privatized power holding sectors.

Looking at the area of concerns analyzed by Comrade Prince Saviour Iche, aka the voice of the voiceless, a human rights advocate and the president of Ambassadors of Peace and Enlightenment Foundation (AMPEF), he explained that a significant situation in the Ijegun area of Lagos State was a firsthand experience that had lingered for over 10 years since he became a property owner. He said the residents, who are also consumers, are inclined to singularly finance the buying of poles, cables, and a transformer to connect electricity to their houses since the power holding company popularly known as Ikeja Electricity had declined to do so despite several appeals.

He said,

"However, the exorbitant bills charged with no analysis on how power is consumed plus no presented bills other than assumptions based on the number of years or months of usage is the shocker of it all."

"How can an Ikeja Electricity official falsify an amount according to how financially capable a customer is perceived to be, with no record or bill to the consumer's name in years and very low distribution of electricity?"

"It is said that on November 1, 2013, following the handover of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to the NEDC/KEPCO Consortium under the privatization scheme of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Ikeja Electric Plc (IE) became the largest Nigerian electricity distribution company. The oil giants, Sahara Group and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), jointly own a 60% stake of Ikeja Electricity, with 40% still owned by the federal government. This means the government has a good percentage of control over its activities to create a regulation."

"Why should the FGN condone such impunity by Ikeja Electricity and others on consumers who must rely on the irregular distribution of power despite being sole financiers of the power installations in their community, which was meant to be the obligation of the power holding company to undertake"

"The idea of disconnecting power when there is no meter to read or a proper notice should be addressed by the federal government. Consumers are meant to be given a fair chance of a caution if there is any delay in bill payment before actions are taken. Besides the transformers, poles, connecting cables, and other fittings are provided by the consumers; Consumers by right should be given the ample opportunity of a caution before they are disconnected even when there are no estimated bills"?

"Who is in charge of the Ikeja electricity unit? What are they doing for accountability, and why are they giving people crazy electricity bills without a prepaid meter?. There was a law passed by the Senate that without a prepaid meter, the estimated bill will be abolished. Where is the implementation policy over non-adherence?"

"Nigeria misses the good old days when consumption was estimated correctly via the use of a meter with no crazy bills attached, just what is consumed. This day, officials of power holding companies like Ikeja Electricity walks from street-to-street presenting ID cards and defrauding people under the pretense that a profile for estimation of bills can be created without visiting the nearest office, which has turned out to be false and seen as a means to extort; the registration of a consumer can only be done in any nearest IE office. The IE's primary duty should be ensuring that consumers are documented accordingly as well as providing a reasonably calculated estimated bill."

"As law-abiding citizens, Nigerians are meant to get documented and pay promptly the estimated bills, but should be done accurately by IE officials. People who have benefitted from power supply yet have no bills accorded to them cannot be faulted, for there was no form of regulation, follow-up, or documentation to show they are consumers."

"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during his campaign, promised to give Nigerians a 24-hour uninterrupted power supply. He said, and I quote, "If he is unable to provide power, he shouldn't be voted in again," but today, what is happening? He is now going for solar energy, budgeting billions to power A*o Rock. What this means is, that the power holding companies accorded access to control the power sector have failed Nigerians especially lagosians."

"Neighboring countries have uninterrupted power supplies, which begs the question, why will the giant of Africa lag behind in growth and development, especially in basic infrastructures? The Senate should sit over these concerning issues to establish a committee to oversee the affairs of the various privatized power-holding companies and revoke their licenses if they continually fail to deliver in their duties."

However, to regulate the excesses of Ikeja Electricity and others, it is important that the federal government implement close monitoring of their activities by ensuring there is an estimated bill according to the consumers' usage; ensure that the prepaid meter, which according to sources is more economical to use, is provided for massively to cover the state; ensure consumers are not the ones buying poles, cables, and transformers to connect electricity into their homes; and also create ways to evenly distribute electricity by disbanding the recent bands. If all of the aforementioned cannot be done, at least the most concerning one of them all should be addressed by the government, Comrade Prince Saviour Iche added.

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13/04/2025

Domestic Abuse: Women at Risk Do Not Know Their Worth—Ogechukwu Giovanna Onoh

Domestic Abuse: Women at Risk Do Not Know Their Worth—Ogechukwu Giovanna Onoh .....call on Sen. Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, Minister of Women Affairs, to hold a

29/03/2025

'Distinguished' should be removed when addressing senators like Onyekachi Nwaebonyi representing Ebonyi State—Iche

The recent fallout between Sen. Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, representing Ebonyi State, and Obiageli Kathryn Ezekwesili, an economic policy expert and former Minister of Solid Minerals of Nigeria, during a public hearing on the sexual harassment allegation made by Natasha Akpoti against Senator Godswill Akpabio has been described as horrific and completely unacceptable by Comrade Prince Saviour Iche, a human rights advocate and founder of Ambassadors of Peace and Enlightenment Foundation 'AMPEF,' The Voice of the Voiceless.

Iche said it is commendable that Oby Ezekwesili expressed herself clearly by exposing the antics and gimmicks of the lawbreakers Nigerians regard as lawmakers. It is clear that the hostility exhibited by Sen. Nwaebonyi corroborates with the lived experiences of women in leadership roles, which is a call for concern, he said.

Speaking further, Iche stated that

"Sen. Nwaebonyi and Oby Ezekwesili's scenario highlights the extent to which women are marginalized, denigrated, and bullied; therefore, women must step up to prevent these circumstances from becoming the norm in their individual workplaces. The senator's demeanor already conveys how he manages his household as a husband and parent; I feel sorry for his wife, who may suffer as a result of his haughtiness and disregard for women."

"That senator's speech to Oby was completely inappropriate. It is wrong to use disparaging and disrespectful language to silence a woman who is a mother, a well-respected member of society, and most likely a grandmother in front of millions of Nigerians worldwide by name-calling. Nigeria is being ridiculed by the world because of our insensitive leaders."

"The Ministry of Women's Affairs has been silent on the intimidation of women in leadership positions, despite the fact that our women are being mistreated and stomped underfoot much too frequently these days. The fact that women in leadership positions have virtually no influence over economic issues and have been so severely undercut that they are essentially unimportant is not new information but must be addressed."

"In order to stop the excesses that are quickly taking over the leadership space, the Ministry of Women Affairs should step in and take action against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Sen. Onyekachi Nwaebonyi. This will serve as a deterrent to others who may have plans to treat female colleagues in leadership in the same patronizing manner."

"Nigerians, particularly women, should not be harassed or dehumanized in any way for demanding accountability, which is fundamentally necessary in making decisions. Those in positions of power must remember that our children are watching and learning from their actions."

Iche added that, in order to prevent adding lunatic appointees such as Sen. Onyekachi Nwaebonyi to the already precarious administration, it is crucial to conduct a mental evaluation of political representatives before selecting them for offices.
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23/01/2025

Educate Your Operatives on Proper Conduct - Iche Urge EFCC
.......Opine on the 2025 Budget Presentation and Its Imbroglio

Following recent reports of misconduct from EFCC operatives leading to the death of one of its men, Comrade Prince Saviour Iche opined that EFCC, which stands for Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, is an anti-corruption agency in Nigeria that enforces laws related to economic and financial crimes and has recorded a series of misconduct by operatives from public complaints in recent times, urging President Tinubu's government to order an overhaul of the agency.

Iche said;

During an operation, it is unwise to barge in on people's private properties without notifying the owners; the search carried out in the house of suspected persons should be done modestly. As an EFCC operative, it is important to display a search warrant or an arrest warrant before a suspect is whisked away, just like it is done when a police officer approaches a suspect from their various houses.

The unjust arrest of youths while some government officials prey on immunity to keep looting public funds shows how weak the EFCC system has become. The Okoya sons, who displayed an abuse of naira in a viral video, were swept under the carpet in the guise of immunity, but the police officer who was seen helping to hold the naira bundles was apprehended and may be punished according to the law. My question is, does the Nigerian law only apply to the poor?

The hunt for fraudsters should start with those at the senate seat; the misdirection leading to barging into people's houses, breaking their doors, and appearing at odd hours of the day is cowardice compared to how a government official would be arrested if found on the EFCC list for an arrest and questioning. The oppression meted out on the poor masses by the EFCC is a call for concern and should be stopped.

The EFCC chairman has to reshuffle and retrain the agency's operatives. The government should do away with dictating EFCC's affairs and allow the agency to do a thorough investigation on money launderers in the government without restrictions so that corruption can be checked instead of hunting more for young boys suspected to be fraudsters (yahoo boys) and barging into people's houses unannounced.

I opine that the EFCC should also focus on the following:

*That in 2024, JAMB budgeted over N800,000,000 on mosquitoes, an obvious corruptive way to embezzle funds, the current registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, should be questioned.

*There is so much money allocated for road renovations; meanwhile, we see nothing. The roads are still bad, and all they do is create a big budget but divert funds while the problem remains; this should be checked.

*Our health sector is bad and drastically deteriorating, and there is an allocated budget for it yearly. Our leaders don't get treated in these hospitals with claims that they are not standard enough. I haven't heard that former American President Joe Biden travelled to India to get his health checked; the health minister should be questioned.

*INEC gets budget allocations every four years but claims their budget is too small; INEC Chairman should be on the watch list.

*In our science and technology schools and universities, we see no equipment for practicals. Minister of Education, what's happening?

Comrade Iche stated that the government needs to monitor the usage of budget allocations to ensure accountability. Any allocation unutilized for its purpose should be questioned and culprits brought to book. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should erase party immunity so that those who have committed and, as a result, migrated to the party that gives immunity will be disappointed, for immunity has ceased to exist, he added.

About the writer

Comrade Prince Saviour Iche is a human rights advocate and the president of the Ambassadors of Peace and Enlightenment Foundation 'AMPEF' (Voice of the Voiceless Media). He's also the president of Private Entrepreneur, a multiple award winner for his advocacy on human rights activities, amongst other achievements.

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10/01/2025

KnoRights, Stakeholders of Aboru, Akinola, Aringbala Commend Gov. Sanwo-Olu, SSG Abimbola Hundenyin Over Removal of the Dilapidated Ige Bridge
...solicits alternative routes while reconstruction of Ige Bridge is ongoing.

In furtherance of a letter dated 17th of September 2024, the committee on Canal Dredging of Residents of Abule Oki, Akinola, and Aboru stakeholders, led by Alhaji Kamorudeen Alade Bamidele, under the able leadership of His High Chief Adebayo Oki, the Baale of Oki Kingdom, Iyana Ipaja, and the Board of Trustees of Know Your Rights for Justice, wishes to express their appreciation and profound gratitude to Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Olushola Sanwo Olu for being an impregnable fighter for the less privileged. His endeavors for Lagosians living along the path of Abule Oki Onajola, Akinola Raji Rasaki, Alabede, Aboru, and others to remove the dilapidated ige bridge, which has become a death trap to motorists and passersby, following the January 16th, 2025 mandate is applaudable.

The aforementioned stakeholders and Human Rights Group wish to commend the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olushola Sanwo Olu, for the provision of good governance to the inhabitants of the aforementioned communities. This simply shows he wishes comfort and stability for residents of Lagos State: "staying with the people, knowing their pains, abolishing their poverty, and providing solutions to their problems.".

The Aboru community applauds Gov. Sanwo-Olu's listening ears to their plights since 2019, when he assumed office as Governor of Lagos State. During this period, the people of the Aboru community have suffered flooding due to blocked canals, dilapidated bridges used as passageways, and construction projects abandoned; the interference of the Lagos state government has brought succor to the Aboru residents as the projects were accomplished one after the other, remaining but a few completions.

These various projects from 2019 in the Aboru community suffered some setbacks due to the lackadaisical attitude implored by the contractors even after government officers and assembly members' visitation on the projects for record purposes. The intervention and strict adherence of the Lagos State government, who upon hearing the situation stepped in to ensure consistency, led to the completion of the various projects.

It is commendable that the secretary of the Lagos state government, Mrs. Abimbola Hundenyin, treated the various matters arising in the development and safety of Aboru residents with kid gloves by ensuring her principal create solutions to the predicaments befalling the Aboru community.

It should be noted that the contractors awarded with the removal of Ige Bridge, Truerete Solutions Limited, hurriedly did a rickety construction of the Abule Oki segment from the confluence of Fury to Ige Bridge, which was supposed to bring relief to the communities but had turned awry with an increased flooding. The timely intervention of the secretary to the Lagos State Government (Mrs. Abimbola Hundevin) and the Commissioner of Environment led the Lagos State Government to revisit the construction.

On the 27th of February 2024, the government listened to the yearning of the inhabitants by demolishing the dilapidated Jimoh Bridge, giving way to the 70-meter expansion of the canal dredging and concrete lining from the confluence of Fury to Ige Bridge.

Moreover, the intention to remove Ige Bridge by the Lagos State Government had livened residents as they witnessed the erecting of a signboard by the state commissioner for the environment with the inscription "Road Closed from January 16th, 2025, to March 2025. Kindly make use of alternative routes." The problem there lies in the nonavailability of alternative routes.

The community would like to suggest a few considerations as follows:

*The road should be constructed from the bridge on Jimoh Street to link Raji Rasaki Junction, which will serve as an alternative access route for motorists and pedestrians. This will lead to the Alagbede junction route to the Aboru axis, which will serve as an alternative access route to the Akinola axis.

* The aforementioned leaders believe in the expansion of the road from Jimoh Bridge to Jimoh Street to Abayomi Street Junction to link Oki Major Road, which will serve as an access route from the bridge to Iyana Ipaja Expressway and Akinola Axis.

The construction of the Limon Bridge to Jimon Street to the Abayomi Street junction to link Oki Major Road and the Lyana Ipaja Expressway to the Akinola Axis will consume some houses illegally built without following Lagos State town planning, which should be demolished to give way for the accessibility of Jimoh Bridge.

It is interesting to note that the communities have signed an M.O.U. that states as follows:

"We wish to bring it to the notice of the Honourable Commissioner that all cornered communities have agreed that all impediments along the path of project ex*****on should be cleared solely in line with the dictates of the state government.".

"We are appealing to our able, indefatigable governor to implement our suggestion on the accessibility of the newly constructed Jimoh Bridge as stated above."

In view of the above, KnRights and the aforementioned stakeholders want the government to ensure that the contractor keeps to his promises that by January 16, 2025, Ige Bridge demolition will commence and be completed on March 16, 2025, as well as the accessibility of the Jimoh Bridge.


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05/01/2025

Why NNPC's rehabilitation of refineries across the nation seem like a charade—Comrade Prince Saviour Iche

Following the December 30th, 2024, announcement by Mele Kyari that the Warri refinery is ready for production of petroleum products and other refineries across the country are in rehabilitation, Comrade Prince Saviour Iche, President Ambassador of Peace Foundation 'AMPEF' (Voice of the Voiceless), is saying Nigerians will only believe the refineries are in rehabilitation/functional when the results are evident.

Meanwhile, the executive chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, who visited the facility, has revealed that the Warri Refining & Petrochemicals Company (WRPC), with a capacity of 125,000 barrels per day, has resumed operations at 60 percent capacity in Warri, Delta State.

Iche claims that previously, the chairman of the NNPCL group has announced similar progress, raising false hopes that some refineries are ready for operation. It is advisable that Nigerians wait to see the evidence by NNPC, which has bred falsehood consistently.

He further said,

"Nigerians should not rejoice yet, as they (NNPC) said the same thing a countless number of times, which all turned out to be propaganda. Nigerians shouldn't take them seriously, especially under this administration."

"NNPC has turned out to be a thorn in the flesh of Nigerians; they have made so many billions from Nigerians in revenue and spent billions also on the rehabilitation of refineries, yet there is nothing to show for it."

"NNPC claims rehabilitation of refineries every year, yet we see nothing; Nigerians should be able to get fuel at a cheaper price if the refineries are functional as they say and should take effect in no time. Their workings should reflect on the price of petroleum products."

Comrade Prince Saviour, in reference, mentioned that former president Olusegun Obasanjo doubted NNPC's claim of the operational readiness of the Warri refinery due to antecedents. He said Nigerians need a transparent government; also, the Dangote refinery has no impact on Nigerians unless petroleum products are brought down.

In a statement released on Thursday, December 2nd, 2025, Olufemi Soneye, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, clarified that the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries was not the typical Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) that has been carried out in the past.

Soneye stressed that this rehabilitation is a complete overhaul of the refineries, with the goal of enhancing their operational efficiency and ensuring they are capable of meeting world-class standards for sustained and reliable production.

As of Dec. 30, 2024, the Warri refinery had resumed operations after several years of inactivity, with the complex now operating at 60% of its nameplate capacity, NNPCL and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said in a series of separate posts to their official social media accounts.

In response to the aforementioned, Iche opined that if President Tinubu and NNPC claim that Port Harcourt and Warri refineries are in the functional stage, it is a welcome development. However, the government should begin working on current prices of petroleum across the country.

In addition, the call for Mele Kyari's resignation will be eased if he truly achieves the purpose of his appointment as chairman of NNPCL without creating false hopes as done previously to extend his stay as chairman. He has previously deceived over 200 million Nigerians about functional refineries; meanwhile, petroleum products are being imported into a country blessed with crude oil. Nigerians need transparency, Iche said.

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28/12/2024

Funfair Stampede: Human Rights Advocates Urge FG Intervention on Volunteers Charged With Murder
...Says the Nigerian government has 50% of the blame in the stampede occurrences.

By Onome Naomi

President of Ambassadors of Peace and Enlightenment Foundation 'AMPEF,' Comrade Prince Saviour Iche urges the federal government to intercede in the murder charges against organizers of the funfair events leading to the stampede. Opined that the recent stampede happenings in three states of the federation are as a result of a failed government, it shows the extent to which hunger has engulfed Nigerians.

The stampede that happened in Abuja, Anambra, and Oyo also explains that the Nigerian government has neglected her primary responsibilities to the masses. The provision of free food items and scholarships by private volunteers to support the less privileged had led the masses to embrace opportunities such as funfairs, leading to the loss of lives.

Although Tinubu's administration gave directives for free transportation and a slash of food items in December 2024, the process was not monitored to see if these directives were effected; the price of food commodities skyrocketed immensely, transport for those travelling from one place to another for the Yuletide season became exorbitant, and transportation within the state also climaxed.

A survey shows that many Nigerians couldn't celebrate as usual for lack of resources. The price of a bag of rice in Nigeria is sold at N120,000, while at the Nigerian/Cotonu border it is sold at N80,000, and at Cotonu it is sold at N60,000. The government would have done better if the border had been opened to enable the free flow of food items at an affordable price, as well as allow Nigerians to enjoy the availability of scarce commodities.

Whom do we blame? The idea of arresting and prosecuting the organizers of these charity events done to assist the less privileged since the government has failed to do so has led to a stampede. The government has failed to reach out to the citizens through subsidized food items and availability of resources, leading to the emergence of various philanthropists proposing to assist the less privileged with the aim to quell hunger.

The overwhelming crowd in these various places in wait for food supplies led to the death of over 120 persons, including children, and should not be pinned on the organizers alone. It is unfortunate that hunger has led many unto the battle of 'survival of the fittest,' and the government is partly to be blamed for the misfortune that has befallen the less privileged.

As we sympathize with the bereaved families for their losses, we should take note that the prosecution of organizers of these events will amount to a negative signal to volunteers across the country willing to do the same. Even if volunteers, despite happenings, employ measures to avoid stampede occurrences, there is only a very little chance that a stampede will not occur due to extreme poverty ravaging the country. In the future, organizers of charity events will resent gifting the poor in the country for fear of stampede and prosecution by the court of law.

Comrade Iche further stated that although he is inclined to occasionally perform philanthropic deeds as a philanthropist, he will not do so because of the way the court is processing cases involving charity event organizers who have stampede problems. He claimed that accusing volunteers of murder in court because of stampede incidents is excessively harsh for those who have good intentions but unfavorable results.

Iche calls on the federal government to effect the release of the organizers of the charity events involving stampedes and deaths of many. Urge FG to drop the murder charges against them, for it is not fair judgment on volunteers who solely had the intention to help the poor. The estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife as heard fainted at the realization that lives were lost; this simply means that the organizers are also sad at the turnout of events and should not be treated unfairly.

Iche added that the crowd witnessed at every food fair event and at the president's residence of recent where people queued to for a loaf of bread in Lagos demonstrates that hunger experienced by the masses is out of control and the government has 50% of the blame. The stampede is not the fault of the organizers in its entirety; they are also overwhelmed with turnouts of beneficiaries. The government should own up to their responsibility to avoid these occurrences.

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01/10/2024

Nigeria independence

01/10/2024

01/10/2024

Nigeria independent

01/10/2024

Hear this ✅ @64

01/10/2024

Loyola Schools visits AMPEF Human rights office in commemoration of Nigeria Independence@64 @64