Nigerian music artist Eedris Abdulkareem has sparked fresh controversy after the country’s broadcasting regulator banned his newly released protest track, Tell Your Papa.
The track directly criticizes President Bola Tinubu and highlights ongoing national hardships.
In an official letter to television and radio stations, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) instructed broadcasters not to air the song, claiming it violates Nigeria’s broadcasting code.
The commission labeled the track “inappropriate” and “objectionable,” arguing it fails to meet standards of public decency.
Released earlier this week, Tell Your Papa has quickly gained traction online, stirring public conversation about Nigeria’s current economic crisis and rising insecurity. In the lyrics, Abdulkareem addresses President Tinubu’s son, Seyi, urging him to inform his father that Nigerians are “dying” due to worsening living conditions, food shortages, and widespread fear.
The song, performed in English, Yoruba, and Nigerian Pidgin, accuses the president of failing to deliver on his promises.
The release comes amid growing frustration over economic reforms introduced by Tinubu after he assumed office in May 2023.
Among the most controversial measures was the removal of a long-standing fuel subsidy that had kept petrol prices low. Its removal triggered a surge in fuel costs, which caused prices of goods and services to climb across the board.
Throughout much of 2024, Nigeria’s annual inflation rate remained above 30%, with food prices rising even faster. As a result, many Nigerians have been forced to reduce both the quantity and quality of their meals, deepening public dissatisfaction.
Security challenges have also persisted. The country continues to struggle with kidnapping-for-ransom cases and fears of a resurgence of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram in the northeast. In the song, Abdulkareem calls on Tinubu’s son to travel by road instead of a private jet to personally witness the dangers ordinary citizens face daily.
The federal government has defended its economic agenda, arguing that tough reforms are necessary to stabilize the country long-term. To ease short-term hardship, authorities have implemented a cash transfer program to support 15 million vulnerable households.
On the security front, the government claims conditions have improved over the past year and a half, though critics argue otherwise.
Nigeria’s media regulator, the NBC, can penalize non-compliant broadcasters. Past actions have included fines and temporary license suspensions for similar violations.
This isn’t the first time Abdulkareem has courted controversy with politically charged music. In 2003, he released Nigeria Jaga Jaga, a track that painted a grim picture of the country’s condition. President Olusegun Obasanjo condemned the song and banned it from public airplay, but it became a street anthem and one of the artist’s most iconic songs.
Reported by M10News— For more updates, visit https://m10news.com.
