By Ayobami Owolabi
ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Federal Government using the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued a ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s controversial new song, “Tell Your Papa,” prohibiting Nigerian radio and TV stations from airing it. The song was flagged for content deemed offensive and inconsistent with the NBC’s broadcasting standards.
A memo from the NBC, dated April 9, 2025, and signed by Susan Obi, the Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, identified the track as “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB). The decision was made under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which regulates content that is considered indecent or against public moral standards.
In the memo, the NBC acknowledged that while the song is gaining traction on social media, its lyrics were not aligned with responsible broadcasting principles. The statement reads:
“Due to the offensive nature of the song ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem, it has been classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB), as per Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. We urge your station to refrain from airing this song to uphold the standards of responsible broadcasting.”
“Tell Your Papa,” which was released earlier this week, targets Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu. The song calls on Seyi to challenge his father about the ongoing issues facing the Nigerian people, such as poverty and insecurity. Abdulkareem’s track is a direct response to a recent comment by Seyi, in which he praised his father as “the greatest president in Nigeria’s history.”
In the track, Abdulkareem raps, “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga.” He continues with, “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 ban has sparked discussions on the ongoing tension between artists’ freedom of expression and the government’s role in regulating content on public airwaves.
