‘Assault on free expression’ – Amnesty Int’l slams NBC’s ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song
By Jeffrey Agbo
Amnesty International has strongly condemned the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) decision to ban Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest track “Tell Your Papa,” calling the move a “clear violation” of fundamental rights to freedom of expression and access to information.
In a statement released Thursday, the global human rights organisation described the ban as “unlawful, arbitrary, and deeply worrying,” warning it reflects a growing pattern of censorship under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“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,” Amnesty stated.
NBC labelled the politically charged song—which critiques the government and highlights worsening socio-economic conditions—as “Not To Be Broadcast,” citing provisions of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.
However, Amnesty dismissed the justification as lacking both legal and moral basis.
“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,” the statement said, noting that the action was “entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the right to access information and media freedom in Nigeria.”
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The organisation urged Tinubu to intervene and instruct the NBC to immediately reverse what it termed a “bizarre” and unjust ban that infringes on multiple human rights.
Amnesty also warned that the crackdown could have far-reaching consequences for artists, broadcasters and the broader landscape of free 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,” it said. “This clampdown on artistic freedom is an appalling reminder that artists are at the risk of being silenced. Nothing can justify suffocating creativity.”
The group emphasised that Nigeria’s actions may breach its obligations under international and regional human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights—both of which safeguard freedom of 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,” Amnesty warned.
Calling for urgent reform, the organisation reiterated its long-standing concerns over NBC’s regulatory framework, which it says has frequently been wielded as a tool to suppress dissent and stifle the media.
“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,” it said.
Amnesty concluded with a caution that if the ban is allowed to stand, it could set a dangerous precedent for government censorship.
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