ABUJA, Nigeria — The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has imposed a broadcast ban on Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s latest protest song, “Tell Your Papa,” deeming it “objectionable” and “unfit” for public airplay on radio and television stations across the country.
In a memo issued on April 9, 2025, and signed by Susan Obi, the Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, the NBC classified the track as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB) under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which prohibits content deemed offensive or in violation of public decency.
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.”
The directive went on to instruct broadcasters to refrain from airing the song to maintain responsible broadcasting standards. “The commission requests that your station exercises discretion and refrains from airing this song to maintain responsible broadcasting standards,” the memo continued.
“Tell Your Papa” was released earlier this week and quickly went viral, sparking significant attention across social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly Twitter).
Known for his politically charged music, Abdulkareem uses the track to sharply critique Nigeria’s leadership, especially targeting Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu.
In the song, Abdulkareem paints a grim picture of the country’s worsening economic crisis and security issues, directly addressing Seyi Tinubu’s privileged lifestyle amidst widespread national suffering.
“Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga,” Abdulkareem raps in the track, using the song as a vehicle to express frustration with the government.
He continues with lyrics directed at the president’s son: “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.”
The track also takes aim at Seyi Tinubu’s lavish lifestyle, contrasting it with the daily hardships faced by average 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.”
The release of the song comes after a controversial statement by Seyi Tinubu during a visit to Adamawa State, where he called his father “the greatest president in Nigeria’s history,” a remark that triggered online backlash.
