“Free publicity,” Nigerians react as NBC bans Eedris Abdulkareem’s song ‘Tell Your Papa’

• The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) banned Tell Your Papa by Eedris Abdulkareem from Nigerian airwaves due to its "objectionable" content
• The song's lyrics criticises Seyi Tinubu's claims about his father's presidency and highlight Nigeria's socio-economic challenges
• The ban has sparked discussions about free speech and the role of music in Nigerian society

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of Nigeria has prohibited radio and television stations from airing Eedris Abdulkareem's latest single, Tell Your Papa, which has become a hot topic online. 

The commission deemed the song's content as "objectionable," resulting in its classification as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB) under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which restricts the airwaves from inappropriate or offensive material.

According to The Punch, a memo dated April 9, 2025, issued by Broadcast Monitoring's Coordinating Director, Susan Obi, NBC emphasised its stance on responsible broadcasting. 

The directive urged media outlets to refrain from airing the track, citing its failure to align with established broadcasting standards.

The official statement, titled “Restriction on Broadcasting Tell Your Papa by Eedris Abdulkareem,” read, 

“The National Broadcasting Commission has identified the song Tell Your Papa by Eedris Abdulkareem, currently trending on social media, as content deemed inappropriate for broadcast due to its objectionable nature. It is therefore classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB), as it violates Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.”

The memo further equipped broadcasters with a reminder of their responsibility to maintain standards, concluding with an expression of gratitude for their cooperation: "Your cooperation and commitment to upholding greatly appreciated. Thank you, Susan Obi - Coordinating Director, Broadcast Monitoring.”

Abdulkareem’s song, which was released earlier in April 6 week, takes jabs at Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, imploring him to address urgent issues plaguing Nigeria. 

This criticism comes on the heels of Seyi Tinubu’s enthusiastic remarks during a public event in Adamawa State, where he hailed his father as “the greatest president in Nigeria’s history.”

“It was never politics, but they keep coming for me, they keep coming for my family, they keep coming for your father, they keep coming for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the greatest president in the history of Nigeria,”

Seyi stated during the engagement. He further lauded his father for his commitment to youth empowerment and economic progress.

However, Abdulkareem's Tell Your Papa counters this narrative with stark realism. The hard-hitting lyrics respond directly to Seyi’s claims, encapsulating the struggles of ordinary Nigerians:

“Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga.” 

The publicised ban has ignited widespread reaction from netizens. 

Reactions trail ‘Tell Your Papa’ ban

@MiracleAdeolu wrote: “Both they have no power to block it) on social media.”

@SamuelIse3 wrote: “Music wey me dey play since yesterday till now 😂😂 make them just dey because we done already get his message.”

@BarcaLakers05 wrote: “Mumu people don make the song trend....this government na very shallow people.....” 

@engr_shaibu_ wrote: “Even Entertainers are Feeling the Heat of the Moment.”

@Princedommm wrote: “The Bola Ahmed Tinubu regime isn't for free speech. No surprises.”

@monseiurshyne1 wrote: “You mean Mr President and His son bans Edris Song. They omitted Social media. Oops I guess they are not in control.”

@AaronJacy wrote: “The f00ls has just promoted the song. Who listens to their NTA nonsense? 🤦🏾😭💀.”

@EbituPromise wrote: “Nice publicity for Eedris Abdulkareem! I just searched the song on sportify and my team mates are grooving with me now✌🏽.”

@FLACKO_VVO wrote: “Eedris has been the only artist that touched the FG. At his peak and after.” 

@Nakson147 wrote: “Somebody pls tell me the different between Tinubu’s “regime and Abacha’s regime?

Pls Kindly educate me.”

#EndBadGovernance Protests: Federal Government drops treason charges against minors

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Federal Government dropped treason charges against minors involved in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance Protests. 

President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate withdrawal of the charges and an investigation into the minors' arrest. 

Justice Egwuatu officially struck out the charges following the attorney general's request.