The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has banned Eedris Abdulkareem’s new song “Tell Your Papa” over its harsh criticism of Seyi Tinubu and the hardship in Nigeria.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has placed a ban on the song “Tell Your Papa” by popular Nigerian rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem after the song directed at Seyi Tinubu was considered offensive.
The song was recently released and it directly addresses Seyi Tinubu, the son of Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu. In the song, Abdulkareem urges Seyi to speak to his father about the suffering and difficult economic situation many Nigerians are facing.
In the controversial song shared on social media, Abdulkareem raps, “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga.” He also says, “Seyi, how far? I swear your papa no try. Too much empty promises. On behalf of Nigerians, take our message to him; kidnappers dey kill Nigerians.”
Abdulkareem continues in the song ‘Tell Your Papa,’ by challenging President Tinubu’s son, “Seyi, try travel by road without your security make you feel the pains of fellow Nigerians. You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem.”
In a memo dated April 9, 2025, NBC ordered radio and television stations in Nigeria not to broadcast the song. The memo was signed by the Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi. According to NBC, the song is considered offensive and unsuitable for public broadcast because it violates broadcasting rules.
NBC stated that the song was classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB) under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. This section prohibits content that is inappropriate, offensive, or against public decency from being aired on Nigerian radio and television.
Without mentioning Seyi Tinubu, NBC in the official statement titled “Restriction on broadcasting ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem”, NBC explained, “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.”
The memo added, “It is therefore classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB), as it violates Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.”
NBC urged all broadcast stations to avoid playing the song in order to maintain responsible broadcasting standards. The statement concluded, “Your cooperation and commitment to upholding greatly appreciated. Thank you, Susan Obi – Coordinating Director, Broadcast Monitoring.”
Newsmen report that Seyi Tinubu who has been hailed in a section of the media for his pro-youth engagements is yet to respond to the ban of the song, Tell your papa.
