The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to reverse the ban on Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s new protest single, “Tell Your Papa”, or face legal action.
In a statement shared via its official X (formerly Twitter) platform on Thursday, SERAP condemned the ban as unlawful and a violation of the artist’s constitutional right to freedom of expression.
“The Tinubu administration must immediately reverse the unlawful ban by the National Broadcasting Commission stopping Nigerian radio and TV stations from airing Eedris Abdulkareem’s new single,” SERAP stated. “We’ll see in court if the ban is not reversed within 48 hours.”
The NBC had, in a memo dated April 9, 2025, signed by its Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, declared the song “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB), citing Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. The section prohibits content deemed offensive or contrary to 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.
It is therefore classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB), as it violates Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. The commission requests that your station exercises discretion and refrains from airing this song to maintain responsible broadcasting standards.”
Eedris Abdulkareem, known for his bold and socially conscious lyrics, is no stranger to controversy. His latest song, “Tell Your Papa,” reportedly takes aim at the Tinubu-led administration, highlighting issues such as economic hardship and governance failures.
The ban has sparked widespread criticism, with many describing it as a clampdown on artistic freedom and an attempt to silence dissent. SERAP, a leading human rights organization, insists that the NBC’s action constitutes censorship and is inconsistent with Nigeria’s democratic ideals.
As the 48-hour countdown begins, all eyes are on the Federal Government and the NBC to see if they will reverse the directive or face a potential legal showdown.
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