National Outrage: SERAP Tackles FG, NBC Over Ban On Explosive Protest Song By Eedris Abdulkareem

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), demanding the immediate reversal of what it called the unlawful ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song, “Tell Your Papa.”....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement shared on its official (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, SERAP denounced the ban as a breach of the artist’s fundamental right to freedom of expression and vowed to pursue legal action if the directive is not withdrawn within the specified timeframe.

“The Tinubu-led government must revoke the illegal ban imposed by the NBC, which prohibits Nigerian media outlets from airing Eedris Abdulkareem’s latest single,” the group stated.
“Failure to reverse the ban within 48 hours will leave us no choice but to take the matter to court.”

Renowned for its advocacy on transparency and human rights, SERAP described the move as a direct assault on freedom of speech and artistic expression in Nigeria.

According to reports, the NBC issued the ban through an internal memo dated April 9, 2025, and signed by Susan Obi, Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring. The memo classified the song as “Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB)” under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which bars the dissemination of content deemed offensive or contrary to public morals.

Titled “Restriction on broadcasting ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem,” the memo stated:

“The National Broadcasting Commission has flagged the song ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem, currently making rounds on social media, as unfit for broadcast due to its objectionable content.”

NBC further instructed all broadcasting stations to comply with the ban in the interest of maintaining responsible and ethical broadcasting standards.

Eedris Abdulkareem, a veteran known for using his music to challenge corruption and bad governance, uses “Tell Your Papa” to critique the current administration, spotlighting issues like economic hardship and governance failures.