Eedris Abdulkareem is a popular Nigerian musician who uses socio-political situations as critical elements in his lyrics and songs. He is one of the Nigerian musicians who speak to political leaders using music as a medium. His latest song, titled “Tell Your Papa,” which addresses the socio-economic conditions of many Nigerians, is directed at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, using Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son, as an indirect object to reach the presidency.
However, on April 9, 2025, through a memo, the National Broadcasting Commission banned the song from being broadcast on radio and television across the country, declaring it Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB), citing Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. The regulatory agency noted that while the song had gained momentum across social media platforms, its lyrical content failed to meet the standards of responsible broadcasting.
Our analyst notes that while the NBC is deploying its regulatory tools, the emergence of social media has disintermediated the power of the Act and the referenced section. This is evident from social media users’ continued consumption of the song mentioned by the Commission itself. So, what is the relevance of the Act when millions of Nigerians are consuming the song through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and various streaming platforms? Moreover, our checks reveal that Nigerians are also searching for the musician’s Nigeria Jaga Jaga song, which was released more than a decade ago.
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The public interest in consuming the song and searching for it using various search engines such as Google and Yahoo is linked to media attention, particularly in the reporting of diverse views on the ban. For example, between April 9 and April 11, 2025 (as of 4 p.m.), our analyst found that both national and international non-governmental organizations had expressed their dissatisfaction with the ban. Professional associations also voiced their concerns.
From Amnesty International to the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria and the Media Rights Agenda, the action of the regulatory agency is tantamount to restricting freedom of expression. They are of the view that the song reflects existing realities in the country.
Headlines, reflecting news sources’ views
- Amnesty International slams NBC over ban of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa”
- I’ll sponsor video shoot of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song banned by NBC – VeryDarkMan
- Amid ban, Nigerians amplify Eedris Abdulkareem’s ‘Tell Your Papa’ song on social media
- PMAN Slams NBC Over Ban On Eedris Abdulkareem’s ‘Tell Your Papa’ Protest Song
- NBC’s Ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s Song ‘Tell Your Papa’ is Unlawful, Repressive – MRA
- ‘Constructive criticism is a crime in Nigeria,’ Eedris Abdulkareem slams NBC over new protest song ‘Tell Your Papa’ ban
- SERAP gives FG, NBC 48 hours to reverse Eedris Abdulkareem’s song ban
Further analysis of the headlines using a social network approach (see Exhibit 1) reveals that Tell Your Papa” Is no longer just a song, it is a node in a resistance network. Alongside laws, institutions, hashtags, and human voices, it redefines protest in the digital era.
Exhibit 1: Social network of selected news headlines
Therefore, the disintermediation of the NBC Act stresses the urgent need to rethink media regulation in Nigeria. As content creation moves beyond terrestrial boundaries, the regulatory framework must evolve from control to collaboration, focusing not just on licensing but also on digital literacy, ethical standards, and platform responsibility.
