The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for directing radio and television stations across Nigeria to stop airing the song “Tell Your Papa” by Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem, calling it an abuse of regulatory power and a serious threat to freedom of expression.
In a statement dated April 9, 2025, and signed by its Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Ms Susan Obi, the NBC instructed all broadcast stations to refrain from airing the song, claiming it contained “objectionable” content and violated Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. The Commission classified the song as “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB).
However, in a statement issued in Lagos, MRA Programme Officer, Ms Ayomide Eweje, criticised the directive, describing Section 3.1.8 of the Code as vague and arbitrary.
She noted that the section merely states that content classified as NTBB must not be aired, without clearly outlining what qualifies as NTBB or under what circumstances such classifications can be made.
“This lack of clarity,” Eweje said, “creates room for abuse and misuse of regulatory powers. The NBC appears to have abandoned its role as an independent media regulator and is instead acting as a propaganda tool, shielding the government from criticism.”
She argued that banning a socially and politically conscious song without due process constitutes censorship and violates Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression. She also pointed to international human rights obligations, including Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights—both of which are binding on Nigeria.
MRA called on the NBC to immediately lift the ban on “Tell Your Papa” and desist from arbitrary actions that erode public trust, infringe on Nigerians’ rights, and narrow civic space.
“We urge media stakeholders, creatives, and civil society to resist any attempts to suppress freedom of expression under the guise of regulation,” Eweje added.
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