Nigerian authorities have banned a song criticizing their president from the airwaves, but the track got over 70,000 YouTube views in just 24 hours after its release. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has stopped all radio and television stations from playing “Tell Your Papa” by Eedris Abdulkareem because it violates the country’s broadcasting code.
The song came as a direct response to growing economic problems after President Bola Tinubu’s administration took office in May 2023. Fuel prices shot up after subsidy cuts, and security became a major concern with about 2,235,954 kidnapping cases reported between May 2023 and April 2024. The track continues to generate heated debates about Nigeria’s economic and security challenges on social media platforms. Amnesty International has stepped in and condemned the ban, calling it a violation of freedom of expression.
NBC Bans ‘Tell Your Papa’ Song From Nigerian Airwaves
“The commission requests that your station exercises discretion and refrains from airing this song to maintain responsible broadcasting standards.” — Susan Obi, Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
Nigerian broadcast regulators banned “Tell Your Papa” on April 9, 2025. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) sent a directive to radio and TV stations nationwide. They labeled the protest song by veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem as “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB) because they found it objectionable [0,3].
What Does the Controversial Song Say?
The song hit the airwaves in early April 2025. It takes aim at President Bola Tinubu’s administration by speaking to his son, Seyi Tinubu. Seyi had publicly called his father “the greatest president in the history of Nigeria,” which sparked this musical response.
Abdulkareem mixes English, Yoruba, and Nigerian Pidgin to deliver his message:
“Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die,” the rapper states bluntly to highlight widespread suffering.
The song calls out Seyi directly: “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”. The lyrics also criticize “too much empty promises” and what Abdulkareem calls “balablu grammar” from the administration.
How NBC Justified the Ban
Susan Obi, NBC’s Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, signed the memo explaining the ban. The commission pointed to Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. This section bans content they consider inappropriate, offensive, or against public decency on Nigerian broadcast platforms.
The official notification stated: “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”.
The NBC told stations they must “exercise discretion and refrain from airing this song to maintain responsible broadcasting standards”. They can punish any broadcaster who ignores these rules.
This isn’t new territory for Abdulkareem. Back in 2002, authorities banned his hit “Jaga Jaga” from radio after he criticized government corruption.
Eedris Abdulkareem Challenges Government Through Music Again
Veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem hit back at the government’s ban on his song. He called the Tinubu administration “one of the most insensitive, vindictive and grossly maleficent” in Nigeria’s history. The artist encouraged his fans to stream the track online, which made the ban backfire quickly.
Artist’s History of Political Commentary
The government has censored Abdulkareem twice now. His track “Jaga Jaga” faced a ban in 2004 when it criticized then-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration for corruption. The prohibition failed and turned the song into a popular street anthem. Abdulkareem took to social media saying “I have traveled this road before as this is reminiscent of the ban of my Jaga Jaga by the Obasanjo administration 21 years ago!”
Social Media Amplifies Banned Content Despite Restrictions
The NBC’s prohibition made the song even more popular. The music video for “Tell Your Papa” got over 70,000 YouTube views in just 24 hours after release. The track became a trending topic on X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and WhatsApp groups right after the ban announcement.
Public Reaction to the Song and Ban
The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria’s (PMAN) President Pretty Okafor opposed the prohibition strongly. “The song has practically pinched the government somewhere. The song is telling us the truth, and there is nothing wrong with that song,” he said.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) gave the government 48 hours to reverse the ban or face legal consequences. Amnesty International labeled it a “bizarre ban” and “a clear violation of freedom of expression.” They called it “an appalling reminder that artists are at the risk of being silenced.”
Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka criticized the censorship through sharp satire. He warned that “any government that is tolerant only of yes-men and women, which accommodate only praise-singers and dancers to the official beat, has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”
Rights Groups Condemn Censorship as Freedom Violation
Nigerian human rights organizations have spoken out against the National Broadcasting Commission’s censorship of “Tell Your Papa” and called the ban unconstitutional and oppressive.
Amnesty International Issues Strong Statement
Amnesty International slammed the NBC’s decision and called it “a clear violation of freedom of expression” and “an abuse of power.” The organization criticized the song’s classification as “Not To Be Broadcast” just because it criticized government officials.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must immediately direct NBC to withdraw the bizarre ban which violates a fundamental human right,” Amnesty International stated in their official release. The organization highlighted that Nigeria’s constitution protects freedom of expression and access to information, and noted “there is no legal justification to ban broadcasting the song on radio and television.”
Amnesty also warned that the ban would “have a disproportionate and chilling effect on the work of radio and television stations in Nigeria.” The group called this decision “an appalling reminder that artists risk being silenced” and labeled the censorship “suffocating creative freedom.”
Legal Challenges Emerge Against the Ban
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) took action beyond criticism and gave the Federal Government 48 hours to reverse what they called an “unlawful ban.” SERAP made it clear they would take legal action if authorities didn’t lift the directive within this timeframe.
Global Rights Nigeria labeled the censorship “another disgraceful and deeply troubling assault on freedom of expression.” Their representative, Damilola Decker, pointed out that the ban violates Section 39 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center’s Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said the government’s actions go against free speech principles. “This means the government is preventing citizens from expressing their views on what is happening in the country,” he stated.
Wole Soyinka Mocks Government’s Censorship Attempt
“Any government that only tolerates praise-singers has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.” — Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate in Literature, Professor, and prominent Nigerian public intellectual
Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka responded to the ban of “Tell Your Papa” with sharp satire. His statement from New York University Abu Dhabi mocked the government’s attempts at censorship.
Nobel Laureate’s Satirical Response
Soyinka’s sharp commentary used irony to “praise” the government’s actions while arguing they should do more. “My position is that such a progressive move by the government and its agencies does not go far enough,” he wrote. He went on to suggest:
- The song ban should extend to the musician himself
- The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) should “also go under the hammer”
- Restrictions should apply to cartoonist Ebun Aleshinloye who created a critical cartoon about the censorship
This exaggerated rhetoric exposed how absurd censorship becomes when taken to its logical end. Soyinka’s statement combined satire with sharp criticism to challenge the Tinubu administration’s “petulant irrationality” that undermined democratic principles.
How Censorship Often Backfires
Soyinka stressed how these bans backfire. “The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion,” he noted. “Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank.”
His words highlighted Nigeria’s troubled past with artistic suppression: “We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends.” This censorship pattern creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power” that encourages officials to target social critics.
Soyinka ended up delivering his strongest rebuke: “Any government that is tolerant only of yes-men and women, which accommodates only praise-singers and dancers to the official beat, has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.” He urged NBC to reverse its “misstep.” His warning was clear – suppressing critical voices and independent thoughts damages democracy instead of helping it grow.
Nigeria’s Long History of Silencing Critical Voices
Nigeria’s long history of artistic censorship continues with the recent silencing of Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song.
From Fela Kuti to Modern Artists
Legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti stands as the most prominent example of music censorship in Nigeria. His outspoken criticism of government corruption led to more than 200 arrests throughout his career. The release of his biting 1976 track “Zombie” that mocked Nigerian soldiers triggered a violent response from authorities. They raided his Kalakuta Republic commune with 1,000 soldiers, which left Kuti badly injured and resulted in his mother’s death. Notwithstanding that, Fela kept producing politically charged music. Muhammadu Buhari’s military regime imprisoned him for 20 months in 1984.
Modern Nigerian artists face comparable restrictions today. The National Film and Video Censors Board routinely blocks music videos it considers inappropriate. The NBC maintains its “Not To Be Broadcast” classifications actively. Artists like Iyanya and P-Square have seen their videos banned from television, which forces them to release their content exclusively online.
How Digital Platforms Change the Censorship Game
Digital platforms have transformed the censorship landscape completely, though traditional censorship remains strong. Musicians can now bypass broadcast restrictions through digital distribution, unlike earlier times when government bans effectively silenced them. Censorship authorities still issue prohibitions stubbornly, even as their effectiveness diminishes in the digital age.
International Standards on Artistic Expression
Nigeria’s censorship practices clash with international human rights frameworks directly. UNESCO’s Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity report advocates for artist protection and recognizes artistic expression as “an act of courage” during societal challenges. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights safeguards artistic expression as a fundamental freedom. Nigeria has failed to meet this standard consistently, despite its 1999 constitution’s guarantees of free expression under section 39.
The Nigerian government’s attempt to silence Eedris Abdulkareem’s “Tell Your Papa” shows how artists still don’t get a fair chance to speak up against those in power. The NBC’s broadcast ban didn’t work as expected because digital platforms made the song available to everyone. The track became a huge hit on YouTube and social media. Rights organizations, notable figures like Wole Soyinka, and regular citizens showed their support, which points to people’s growing resistance against artistic censorship.
This whole ordeal follows Nigeria’s long history of silencing critical voices, from Fela Kuti to today’s performers. The government’s actions show a big disconnect – they can control traditional broadcasts but can’t stop voices from being heard on digital channels. Nigerian artists’ spirit of resistance and their role in addressing social issues through music remain strong, even as the battle between state control and artistic freedom continues to evolve.
