DIGITAL REBELLION: NBC ban backfires as Nigerians worldwide rally behind Eedris Abdulkareem’s “tell your papa”
Sitha Maliwa
In a move that has ignited fresh debates around censorship, protest music, and freedom of expression in Nigeria, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has officially banned veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s latest single, “Tell Your Papa,” from being aired on radio and television.
Citing the “objectionable nature” of the song, NBC issued a directive on April 9, 2025, classifying the politically charged track as “Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB)” under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. This section prohibits content considered inappropriate or offensive from being aired on national broadcasting platforms.
In a memo signed by the Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, the NBC stated:
“The National Broadcasting Commission has ...