In a move that has reignited the debate over censorship and freedom of expression in Nigeria, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has officially banned the new single Tell Your Papa by veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem from airing on radio and television stations across the country.
The track, released on Monday, takes direct aim at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies and paints a grim picture of the hardships many Nigerians are currently facing. Abdulkareem doesn’t mince words, using sharp lyrics to call out the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, to deliver a blunt message to his father:
“Tell your papa Seyi / Tell your papa country hard / Tell your papa people dey die… / Too much empty promises / Balablu grammar,” he raps in the politically charged song.
In a memo dated April 9, signed by NBC’s Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, the commission cited Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, stating the song was “objectionable” and violated standards of public decency.
“The National Broadcasting Commission has identified the song Tell Your Papa… as content deemed inappropriate for broadcast due to its objectionable nature,” the memo reads.
The memo instructs all broadcast stations to “exercise discretion” and refrain from airing the song in order to “maintain responsible broadcasting standards.”
Eedris Responds: “Truth Is Treated as a Crime in Nigeria”
Reacting to the ban via Instagram, Abdulkareem called the NBC’s action “predictable,” comparing it to the infamous 2004 ban of his protest anthem Jaga Jaga under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. That song, which criticized widespread corruption and social decay, became an underground classic despite its ban from mainstream airwaves.
“It’s obvious that in Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism are always deemed a big crime by the government,” Abdulkareem wrote.“This administration led by President Bola Tinubu is now going on record as one of the most insensitive, vindictive, and grossly maleficent in Nigeria’s history.”
He described the directive as an attempt to “shield the government by hiding the candle under the table,” and vowed to continue speaking out through his music.
“The conscience is an open wound. Only the truth can heal it. Aluta Continua!!!” he concluded.
Eedris Abdulkareem has long been known for using music as a platform for political and social commentary. In June 2024, he released Emilokan, a song that criticized Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) for staying silent on Tinubu’s policies — a stark contrast to his vocal stance during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure.
With Tell Your Papa, Abdulkareem has once again placed himself at the center of national conversation, proving that two decades after Jaga Jaga, his voice — and message — remains as defiant as ever.
