President Bola Tinubu’s administration through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), has banned the protest song “Tell Your Papa” by Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem from being played on radio and television across Nigeria.
The ban directive is contained in a memo dated April 9, 2025, issued by Susan Obi, the Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring.
The commission declared the track Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB) under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, citing its “objectionable nature.”
“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 memo stated.
“It is therefore classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB), as it violates Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.”
That section of the code restricts media platforms from airing content seen as offensive, indecent, or against public morality.
“The commission requests that your station exercises discretion and refrains from airing this song to maintain responsible broadcasting standards.”
Currently, the song, Tell Your Papa, had gained massive attention online after Eedris called out Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, for commending his father despite the scorching hardship in the country.
Eedris, known for his aggressive lyrics and politically electrified songs like Jaga Jaga, is yet to respond to the NBC’s latest decision.
The rapper had earlier described the new track as “a voice for the voiceless.”
Moreover, this is not the first time NBC has wielded the big stick against his music.
In 2004, the same commission placed a ban on Jaga Jaga after it criticised the Nigerian government under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.