The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Nigerian government and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) 48 hours to lift the ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s new protest song, “Tell Your Papa”.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, SERAP criticized the ban, calling it a clear violation of the singer’s right to express himself.
The group warned that it would take legal action if the ban isn’t reversed within the given timeframe.
According to SERAP, “The NBC’s ban on the song is illegal. The Tinubu government must act quickly and lift the restriction or face us in court.”
“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. We’ll see in court if the ban is not reversed within 48 hours,” SERAP warned.
The NBC had earlier issued a directive on April 9, 2025, barring radio and TV stations from playing the song.
The order, signed by Susan Obi, NBC’s Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, labeled the track “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB), citing Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. This section prohibits content considered offensive or indecent for public broadcast.
NBC’s memo, titled “Restriction on Broadcasting ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem”, claimed the song was inappropriate for airplay and urged broadcasters to stay away from it to uphold professional standards.
It reads, “The National Broadcasting Commission has identified the song ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem, currently trending on social media, as content deemed inappropriate for broadcast due to its objectionable nature.”
It is therefore classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB), as it violates Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. The commission requests that your station exercises discretion and refrains from airing this song to maintain responsible broadcasting standards.”
Eedris Abdulkareem, known for using his music to challenge bad governance and speak up for social justice, released “Tell Your Papa” earlier this week.
The song openly criticizes the current administration, blaming it for rising economic hardship and poor leadership.
The track specifically calls out Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, urging him to confront his father about the worsening situation in the country.
Abdulkareem paints a harsh picture of life in Nigeria, highlighting the struggles ordinary citizens face.
Many have slammed NBC’s move as an attempt to stifle dissent and limit artistic expression—a view shared by SERAP and other critics who believe the ban is more about silencing criticism than upholding broadcast standards.
The song appears to be a direct response to Seyi Tinubu’s recent praise of his father during a visit to Adamawa State, where he described President Tinubu as “the greatest president in Nigeria’s history.”
