Outrage is mounting after the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) placed a restriction on Tell Your Papa, a protest anthem by veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem, with rights group SERAP giving President Tinubu’s government a 48-hour ultimatum to reverse the decision or face a legal challenge.
MCC had earlier reported that in a memo issued on April 9 and signed by NBC official Susan Obi, the commission deemed the song “unfit” for airplay, classifying it under the Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB) category due to its “offensive and objectionable” content as per Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
“The National Broadcasting Commission has identified ‘Tell Your Papa’ as inappropriate for broadcast,” Obi noted, urging radio and TV stations nationwide to cease airing the track.
But SERAP, a prominent watchdog group, is pushing back hard.
In a Thursday night statement, the organization called the directive a “violation of artistic freedom and free speech,” and demanded its immediate revocation.
“The ban is not only unlawful but a shameful attempt to muzzle critical expression,” SERAP stated. “The administration must respect citizens’ constitutional rights.”
The protest song, released earlier this week, takes aim at the country’s economic woes and perceived governance failures, with sharp criticism directed at Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son.
Abdulkareem, long known for his politically charged lyrics, uses the track to amplify public frustrations over insecurity, inflation, and leadership inefficiencies.
“The Tinubu government is trying to silence dissent,” SERAP argued. “But we will challenge this in court if the decision is not reversed within 48 hours.”
Public reaction has been swift, with artists, activists, and democracy advocates voicing concern over what many view as creeping censorship and suppression of artistic freedom in Nigeria.