Human rights watchdog Amnesty International, AI, has condemned in strong terms the recent decision by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to ban Nigerian rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem’s new protest song, ‘Tell Your Papa’. Amnesty International described the decision to ban the song as a clear violation of Abdulkareem’s right to freedom of expression and access to information.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, AI described the ban as “unlawful, arbitrary, and deeply worrying,” stressing that it reflected a dangerous trend of censorship and intolerance by the authorities under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The organisation insisted that “The National Broadcasting Commission’s blatant ban of broadcasting Eedris Abdulkareem’s song Tell Your Papa is a clear violation of freedom of expression, which includes the right to obtain information”.
NBC had taken umbrage at the song which is very critical of the performance of President Tinubu and amplifies the socio-economic hardships Nigerians are going through, and classified it as “Not To Be Broadcast,” citing provisions in the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.
The Amnesty International however said the move lacked any legal or moral justification.
“Categorizing the song as ‘Not To Be Broadcast’ for solely being critical of the government and people in power is an abuse of power and is unacceptable,” Amnesty said, noting that the action was “entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the right to access information and media freedom in Nigeria.”
The group further called on President Tinubu to “immediately direct the NBC to withdraw the bizarre ban which violates a range of human rights.”
Amnesty also warned that the clampdown could have far-reaching consequences for artists, media houses, and freedom of expression in Nigeria.
“The arbitrary and unlawful ban by the NBC would have a disproportionate and chilling effect on the work of radio and television stations in Nigeria.
“This clampdown on artistic freedom is an appalling reminder that artists are at the risk of being silenced. Nothing can justify suffocating creativity,” the statement read.
AI argued that the move by NBC also puts Nigeria in violation of its international and regional obligations, particularly under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights—both of which guarantee the right to free expression and artistic freedom.
“Citing the deeply flawed and problematic Nigerian Broadcasting Code to justify the ban shows a new level of intolerance of dissenting voices,” the group stated.
The organisation reiterated its call for urgent reforms to NBC’s regulatory framework, which it says has long been used to “curb dissent and muzzle the press.”
“The ban highlighted the need to urgently repeal heavy censorship regulations of NBC that have been used to curb freedom of expression in the country,” the group said.
Amnesty concluded by warning that if the ban is not reversed, it could set a dangerous precedent for broader government censorship.
“It is not too late for President Bola Tinubu’s government to withdraw the ban which will have the sad repercussion of promoting censorship and generating a new wave of fear of repression,” the statement concluded.