The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the federal government 48-hour ultimatum to reverse the ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song, “Tell Your Papa”.
It gave the ultimatum in a statement posted on its official X platform.
SERAP described the ban as a breach of fundamental human rights, especifically freedom of expression, and vowed to seek legal redress if the directive is not withdrawn.
It said: “The Tinubu administration must immediately reverse the unlawful ban by the National Broadcasting Commission stopping Nigerian radio and TV stations from airing Eedris Abdulkareem’s new single.
“We’ll see in court if the ban is not reversed within 48 hours.”
The NBC, had in a directive to broadcast stations dated April 9, 2025 and signed by its Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, categorized the song as “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB) and directed them to exercise discretion and refrain from airing the track as it violated the national broadcasting standards.
The commission cited Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which bars content deemed offensive or against public decency.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government and the National Broadcasting Commission to reverse the ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s latest protest song, “Tell Your Papa.”
The organisation made this known in a post via its official X handle on Thursday, hours after NBC placed a ban on the protest song, which is critical of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
SERAP described the ban as unlawful and a violation of the Nigerian artist’s right to freedom of expression.
