The protest song “Tell Your Papa” by Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem has been banned from airing on radio and TV by Nigeria’s National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). But human rights group Amnesty International says this ban is illegal and goes against freedom of speech.
A Song That Speaks the Truth
This song talks about corruption, poverty, and bad leadership in Nigeria. Instead of allowing the public to hear it, NBC labeled it “Not To Be Broadcast.” They said it broke the rules in the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.
But Amnesty International strongly disagrees. They say banning the song just because it criticizes the government is wrong. According to them, this action is an abuse of power and a direct attack on free speech and artistic freedom.
A Pattern of Silencing Voices
Eedris Abdulkareem has a long history of using his music to speak out against injustice — just like he did years ago with his hit song “Jaga Jaga.” Now, this new ban shows that the government is becoming more hostile to free expression, not just for musicians but for all creators and media workers.
Amnesty warns that this kind of censorship sends a scary message: if you speak up, you could be silenced.
Amnesty’s Demands
Amnesty International is asking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to:
- Cancel the ban immediately
- Fix the NBC’s rules, which are often used to stop people from criticizing the government
They also pointed out that this ban goes against Nigeria’s promises to respect freedom of expression. Nigeria has signed international agreements like:
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
- The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
A Dangerous Move
Using the Broadcasting Code to block protest songs shows that the government may be growing less tolerant of opposing views, Amnesty says. If this continues, it might lead to more censorship in Nigeria.
