The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s controversial protest song, Tell Your Papa, from being aired on Nigerian radio and television stations. The commission cited the song’s “objectionable nature” as the primary reason for the restriction.
In a memo dated April 9, 2025, signed by the Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, the NBC declared that the track violates Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which prohibits content deemed inappropriate, offensive, or not in line with public decency. The directive mandates that stations refrain from airing the song, classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB).
The memo, titled Restriction on Broadcasting ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem, 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). The commission requests that your station exercises discretion and refrains from airing this song to maintain responsible broadcasting standards.”
The song, which has rapidly gained traction on social media platforms, is seen as a sharp critique of the Nigerian government, specifically targeting Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu. Abdulkareem’s lyrics directly address Seyi, urging him to confront his father about the worsening socio-economic conditions in Nigeria.
The controversial lyrics of Tell Your Papa include lines such as, “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga,” and “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.” Abdulkareem also challenges Seyi Tinubu’s privileged lifestyle, rapping, “You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem.”
The release of Tell Your Papa follows Seyi Tinubu’s recent comments in Adamawa State, where he lauded his father as “the greatest president in Nigeria’s history,” a statement that triggered Abdulkareem’s protest through the song. The rapper’s hard-hitting lyrics have sparked debate about the state of Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges, especially the growing insecurity and hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians.
While the song continues to trend online, the NBC’s intervention signals the ongoing tension between freedom of expression and regulatory measures aimed at maintaining broadcast standards in Nigeria. The commission’s call for stations to exercise discretion is a reminder of the strict guidelines that govern content in the Nigerian media landscape.
The full impact of the ban on Abdulkareem’s song and its wider political implications remains to be seen, especially as the song continues to resonate with a segment of the Nigerian public who are critical of the current government’s handling of national issues.
