Eedris Abdulkareem Slams NBC After ‘Tell Your Papa’ Gets Banned

Veteran Nigerian rapper and activist, Eedris Abdulkareem, has launched a fiery response after the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) slammed a ban on his latest single “Tell Your Papa”, accusing the regulatory body of muzzling free speech and shielding the current government from criticism.

In a memo dated April 9, 2025, and signed by NBC’s Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, the commission officially labeled the politically charged track as “Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB)” under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. The section forbids any material deemed “inappropriate or in breach of public decency” from being aired on public radio and television.

NBC cited the song’s “objectionable nature” as the reason behind the move, urging all broadcast stations to steer clear of airing the track, which has already gone viral on social media and sparked intense conversations nationwide.

But Eedris isn’t backing down.

Taking to Instagram, the outspoken rapper slammed the ban as an orchestrated attack on truth and constructive criticism. He directly blamed the administration of President Bola Tinubu, calling it “vindictive,” “insensitive,” and “hellbent on silencing dissent.”

“NBC just banned my new single ‘Tell Your Papa’… It’s obvious that in Nigeria, truth is considered a crime,” Eedris wrote in a strongly-worded post.

Drawing parallels with the 2004 ban of his iconic protest anthem “Jaga Jaga” under the Olusegun Obasanjo regime, Eedris questioned whether Nigeria had made any real progress in upholding freedom of expression.

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“This present government led by Bola Tinubu is going on record as one of the most grossly maleficent in our nation’s history,” he wrote. “They are instructing broadcast houses to shield the government… hiding the candle under the table. Any wonder why we’re stuck in one spot?”

Eedris, known for using music as a tool for activism, has long been a thorn in the side of Nigeria’s political elite. His latest track, “Tell Your Papa”, appears to have struck a nerve with its hard-hitting lyrics that allegedly target poor leadership and governance failure.

Despite the ban, the song continues to trend online, igniting debates among fans and critics alike, with many calling the NBC’s action a throwback to military-style censorship.

“The conscience is an open wound. Only the truth can heal it,” Eedris declared defiantly. “Aluta continua.”