The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has prohibited Nigerian radio and television stations from broadcasting veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s latest song “Tell Your Papa,” citing its “objectionable nature.”
In a memo dated April 9, 2025, NBC’s Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, classified the track as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB) under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which restricts content deemed inappropriate or offensive from airing on Nigerian broadcast platforms.
“The commission requests that your station exercise discretion and refrain from airing this song to maintain responsible broadcasting standards,” the memo stated, according to reports from The PUNCH.
The controversial song, which was released earlier this week and has gained significant traction on social media, directly addresses Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu. In the track, Abdulkareem urges Seyi to confront his father about Nigeria’s deteriorating socio-economic conditions.
The rapper’s lyrics include pointed criticisms such as “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die,” and references to insecurity, kidnappings, and economic hardship facing ordinary Nigerians. The song appears to be a response to Seyi Tinubu’s recent comments in Adamawa State, where he reportedly described his father as “the greatest president in Nigeria’s history.”
While the song has been banned from traditional broadcast media, it continues to circulate widely on social media platforms, where it was initially shared on Sunday.
NBC has not commented on whether any additional actions will be taken regarding the song’s distribution through non-broadcast channels.
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has demanded that the Federal Government and NBC reverse their ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song “Tell Your Papa” within 48 hours or face legal action.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Thursday, the civil society organisation condemned the NBC’s decision as “unlawful” and a violation of the veteran rapper’s right to freedom of expression.
“The Tinubu administration must immediately reverse the unlawful ban by the National Broadcasting Commission stopping Nigerian radio and TV stations from airing Eedris Abdulkareem’s new single,” SERAP stated. “We’ll see in court if the ban is not reversed within 48 hours.”
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