Veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem has hit back at the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) after it banned his latest track, ‘Tell Your Papa’, from broadcast stations nationwide. The NBC’s memo, issued on April 9, 2025, cited violations of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code related to “objectionable” content as the reason for the “Not To Be Broadcast” designation.
Responding vehemently via Instagram, Abdulkareem framed the NBC’s decision as a politically driven attempt to suppress dissenting voices and curtail freedom of expression. He directly accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of being intolerant of criticism. According to Abdulkareem, the ban on ‘Tell Your Papa’ is symptomatic of a larger issue in Nigeria where truth and constructive feedback are often treated as offenses by those in power.
The rapper drew a historical comparison to the censorship of his politically charged hit ‘Jaga Jaga’ during the Obasanjo administration in 2004, questioning whether Nigeria has truly made progress in upholding democratic principles, particularly concerning freedom of speech for artists.
The clash between Abdulkareem and the NBC highlights the delicate balance between artistic freedom and regulatory oversight in Nigeria, especially when artistic content carries political undertones. Abdulkareem’s strong reaction underscores the frustration of artists who feel their right to address socio-political issues is being unjustly curtailed. The controversy surrounding ‘Tell Your Papa’ is likely to fuel further discussion about the boundaries of free expression and the role of regulatory bodies in a democratic society.
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