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The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has prohibited Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa” from being broadcast on television and radio due to its lyrical content.
In a notice on April 9 sent to all broadcasting stations, the NBC stated that the song, which has become popular on social media, breaches section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and should be labeled as “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB).
The commission cautioned both radio and television stations against airing the song, which critiques President Bola Tinubu’s government, in order to uphold responsible broadcasting standards.
“The National Broadcasting Commission has flagged the song ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem, currently trending on social media, as unsuitable for broadcast due to its objectionable nature,” the notice, signed by Susan Obi, the coordinating director of broadcast monitoring, read.
The track was released on April 6 after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, referred to his father as “the greatest president in the history of Nigeria.”
The lyrics state, “Tell your papa, Seyi, tell your papa country hard, tell your papa, Seyi, people dey die, tell your papa, Seyi, this one don pass Jagajaga. ‘Seyi, try to travel by road without your security, make you feel the pains of fellow Nigerians. You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem.’”
This is not the first instance of Abdulkareem facing criticism from authorities; his controversial hit “Jaga Jaga” was also banned from radio stations in 2002 for highlighting the nation’s suffering and corruption.
