Nigerian broadcasting authorities have prohibited the airing of “Tell Your Papa,” a song by rapper Eedris Abdulkareem critical of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) deemed the Yoruba, English, and Pidgin lyrics “inappropriate for broadcast due to its objectionable nature.”
The song addresses Tinubu’s son, urging him to inform his father that “people are dying” due to economic hardship and insecurity.
Abdulkareem posted the NBC’s ban letter, dated Wednesday, on social media, lamenting that “truth and constructive criticism is always deemed as a big crime” in Nigeria.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, a legal nonprofit, has threatened to sue the government over the ban, which they view as a violation of free expression.
President Tinubu’s economic reforms, initiated after taking office in May 2023, have led to a significant cost-of-living crisis.
While the government touts these reforms as essential for long-term financial stability, many Nigerians have experienced soaring inflation and a devalued naira.
Abdulkareem, in response to the ban, encouraged listeners to stream the song online, stating, “We go stream.”
