NBC bans Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song ‘Tell Your Papa’

NBC bans Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song ‘Tell Your Papa’

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has prohibited Nigerian radio and television stations from airing Eedris Abdulkareem’s new single, ‘Tell Your Papa,’ due to its “objectionable nature”.

In the song released on Monday, the rapper criticised President Bola Tinubu government’s economic policies.

He slammed Tinubu for making “too many empty promises,” which he dismissed as “balablu grammar”.

He also called on Seyi Tinubu to convey Nigerians’ hardships to his father.

“Tell your papa Seyi/ Tell your papa country hard/ Tell your papa people dey die/ Tell your papa Seyi/ This one don pass jagajaga/ Seyi, ebi n pa mekunu/ Tinubu, ebi n pa mekunu/ Seyi how far/ Your papa no try/ Too much empty promises/ Balablu grammar,” Eedris sings.

The song, according to a memo dated April 9 and signed by Susan Obi, the coordinating director, broadcast monitoring, was deemed to be in violation of Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

The NBC said it considered the song’s content to be “inappropriate” and “objectionable”. The commission cited the song’s violation of public decency standards on broadcast platforms.

The NBC also admonished the various stations to “exercise discretion” and avoid airing the song to maintain “responsible broadcasting standards”.

“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 reads.

“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.

“Your cooperation and commitment to upholding these standards are greatly appreciated. Thank you.”

This is not the first time Eedris has spoken out against the government.

In June 2024, the rapper released a song titled ‘Emilokan’, where he called out Enoch Adeboye, the founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

He challenged the cleric to be “critical” of Tinubu’s government as he did during Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

His song ‘Jaga Jaga’ was banned from radio by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2004, but it became an underground anthem