LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigerian authorities have banned the broadcast of “Tell Your Papa,” a new song by veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem that sharply criticizes President Bola Tinubu’s administration for economic hardship and insecurity plaguing the country, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) announced Thursday.
The NBC, which regulates Nigeria’s broadcast industry, labeled the song “inappropriate” and “objectionable,” citing a violation of Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which prohibits content deemed offensive or against public decency. In a memo dated April 9, 2025, signed by Susan Obi, the NBC’s Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, radio and television stations were ordered to refrain from airing the track, classifying it as “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB).
The song, released earlier this week, targets Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, urging him to convey the public’s struggles to his father. Mixing English, Yoruba, and Pidgin, Abdulkareem raps, “Seyi, tell your papa contry hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga,” referencing his 2003 protest anthem “Nigeria jaga jaga,” which was similarly banned under then-President Olusegun Obasanjo for its critique of governance. He further challenges Seyi to “travel by road without your security” to experience the dangers ordinary Nigerians face, contrasting it with the elite’s use of private jets.
Since its release, “Tell Your Papa” has gone viral on social media platforms like X, Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook, resonating with many Nigerians frustrated by soaring inflation, rising fuel prices, and persistent insecurity, including kidnappings and threats from groups like Boko Haram. Annual inflation has hovered above 30% for much of the past year, exacerbated by Tinubu’s economic reforms, such as the removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023, which caused petrol prices to spike and triggered broader cost-of-living increases.
Tinubu’s administration has defended its policies, arguing they aim to stabilize Nigeria’s economy in the long term. To mitigate short-term hardship, the government has implemented a cash transfer program targeting 15 million poorer households. On security, officials claim improvements over the past 18 months, though critics argue challenges remain acute.
The ban has sparked widespread debate, with some praising Abdulkareem’s boldness and others questioning the government’s tolerance for dissent. Amnesty International condemned the NBC’s decision as a “clear violation” of freedom of expression, calling it “unlawful, arbitrary, and deeply worrying” in a statement Thursday. The organization argued the move reflects a broader trend of censorship under Tinubu’s administration and violates Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a Nigerian nonprofit, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government and NBC to reverse the ban, threatening legal action if unmet. “This ban is illegal, unjustified, and a blatant attempt to silence dissent,” SERAP said in a statement. The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) also criticized the decision, with President Pretty Okafor predicting it would backfire by amplifying the song’s popularity. “Banning the song is going to make it go even more viral,” Okafor told Punch newspaper.
Abdulkareem, no stranger to controversy, responded fiercely, accusing the Tinubu administration of being “insensitive, vindictive, and grossly maleficent.” In a Facebook post, he wrote, “Truth and constructive criticism is always deemed a big crime by the government. Just under two years of his presidency, and the results are frighteningly abysmal from all fronts.” He drew parallels to the 2004 ban on “Nigeria jaga jaga,” which became a street anthem despite censorship, and urged fans to stream “Tell Your Papa” online.
Political economist Pat Utomi also weighed in, calling the ban an “abuse of the constitution” and questioning Nigeria’s democratic progress. “Are we moving forward or retreating?” he asked on X.
The NBC has not responded to criticisms from Amnesty, SERAP, or others, and President Tinubu has made no public comment on the controversy. The commission wields significant power, with the ability to fine stations or suspend licenses for non-compliance, as seen in past enforcement actions.
As the debate rages, “Tell Your Papa” continues to gain traction online, with many Nigerians viewing it as a soundtrack to their struggles. Abdulkareem’s defiance echoes a long tradition of Nigerian artists using music to challenge authority, raising questions about the balance between artistic freedom and government control in Africa’s most populous nation.
