The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has banned Nigerian radio and television stations from playing Eedris Abdulkareem’s “Tell Your Papa” song just as the Amnesty International (AI) and the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria have kicked against the NBC order.
The NBC stated this in an April 9, 2025 memo issued by the Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, saying the song has “objectionable nature” and declared the track Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB) under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
This section bans content deemed inappropriate, offensive, or breach of public decency from being aired on Nigerian broadcast platforms.
The NBC said the song has gained momentum across social media platforms, adding that its lyrical did not meet the standards of responsible broadcasting.
The statement titled, “Restriction on broadcasting ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem,’ read, “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.”
“Your cooperation and commitment to upholding this is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Susan Obi -Coordinating Director, Broadcast Monitoring.”
In the music the artist told Seyi Tinubu to tell his father, President Bola Tinubu, that the socio-economic conditions in Nigeria were worsening.
The song “Tell Your Papa,” was shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
Abdulkareem delivered a blunt message, painting a grim picture of the hardships facing everyday Nigerians in response to Seyi Tinubu’s recent comments in Adamawa State, where he described his father as “the greatest president in Nigeria’s history.”
Part of the lyrics reads: “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga.”
“Seyi, how far? I swear your papa no try. Too much empty promises. On behalf of Nigerians, take our message to him; kidnappers dey kill Nigerians.
“Seyi, try travel by road without your security make you feel the pains of fellow Nigerians. You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem,” he sings.
According to the Amnesty International, the NBC ban Abdulkareem’s new protest song, Tell Your Papa, was a “clear violation” of the right to freedom of expression and access to information.
Amnesty on Thursday, said the ban was “unlawful, arbitrary, and deeply worrying,” adding the ban was a dangerous trend of censorship and intolerance by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
“The National Broadcasting Commission’s blatant ban of broadcasting Eedris Abdulkareem’s song Tell Your Papa is a clear violation of freedom of expression, which includes the right to obtain information,” the organisation said.
Alos, the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria has rejected NBC’s ban on the trending song, “Tell Your Papa.”
PMAN President, Pretty Okafor, said the ban was likely to backfire, as it only serves to amplify the song’s reach and relevance in light of the current socio-economic challenges facing Nigerians.
Okafor stated, “The first major mistake is banning the song because it’s going to make the song even go viral right now. Those who haven’t heard about the song or haven’t even listened to it will go now to look for the song and will start promoting it.
“The song has practically pinched the government somewhere, that’s why they ordered for the ban. So, there is already a mistake that has been made by the NBC or even the government by paying attention to that particular song.”
“We don’t have the power to offer the artist support right now because it is a very sensitive issue, so, we need to be careful. We will just be watching because people are dying and the suffering is too much. How do we repair the economy? We cannot pretend that all is well. The song is telling us the truth, and there is nothing wrong with that song.”
