On April 9, 2025, Nigeria’s National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) directed all radio and television stations across the country to cease airing “Tell Your Papa,” a newly released track by veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem. The Commission described the song as “inappropriate” and in violation of the country’s broadcast code.
Released on April 6, the Afrobeat track, performed in a mix of Nigerian Pidgin and Yoruba, directly addresses Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu. The lyrics urge him to inform his father about the country’s deteriorating infrastructure, rising insecurity, and the growing economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
In a directive signed by NBC’s Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, media outlets were advised not to air the song in order to maintain what the Commission referred to as “responsible broadcasting standards.”
Despite the ban, Tell Your Papa continues to gain popularity online, resonating with many Nigerians who see it as a bold critique of the country’s socio-political challenges.
Freedom of expression, including artistic freedom, is protected under international frameworks such as the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) strongly condemns the NBC’s action as a violation of the right to freedom of expression. The ban suppresses political commentary, undermines democratic values, and contravenes Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights instruments.
The MFWA calls on the NBC to reverse the ban and uphold artistic and media freedoms in accordance with Nigeria’s constitutional and international commitments.
