Nigerian authorities have banned the broadcast of the song Tell Your Papa by musician Eedris Abdulkareem, which openly criticises President Bola Tinubu.

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In the song, Abdulkareem calls on the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, to inform his father that many Nigerians are suffering due to rising hardship, insecurity, and hunger.

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The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which regulates TV and radio stations in the country, issued a directive to all broadcasters, stating that the song should not be aired. According to the commission, the track goes against the national broadcast code.

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The NBC said it considered Tell Your Papa’s content to be “inappropriate” and “objectionable” adding that it falls short of public decency standards.

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The song, released earlier in the week, has quickly gained traction on Nigerian social media, sparking widespread debate about the country’s economic struggles and security challenges.

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Since taking office in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu has implemented several economic reforms that have significantly increased the cost of living. One major move was removing the fuel subsidy, which had kept petrol prices low for years.

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Tinubu argued that the government could no longer afford the subsidy. As a result, fuel prices surged, causing ripple effects across the economy.

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Throughout most of last year, inflation stayed above 30%, and prices for many essential food items rose even higher. This has forced many Nigerians to reduce the number of meals they eat each day and cut down on food consumption.

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Security concerns remain high as well. Kidnappings for ransom are still common, and there are growing fears that the Islamist militant group Boko Haram could regain strength in the north-east.

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On the track, in a mix of English, Yoruba and Pidgin, Abdulkareem tells Tinubu’s son that his father “is not trying” and that he has made “too many empty promises”.

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When it comes to insecurity, the artist urges Seyi to travel by road, instead of private jet, to experience the dangers faced by ordinary Nigerians.

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Tinubu’s government has in the past defended its economic policies saying that the president was aiming to put the country on a stable footing in the long term.

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In order to deal with the short-term pain, the authorities have an on-going cash transfer scheme to help 15 million poorer Nigerian households.

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Regarding security, officials say the situation has improved over the past 18 months.

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As the country’s broadcast regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has the power to penalise media outlets that disobey its directives. In the past, it has issued fines and suspended licences for similar breaches.

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Eedris Abdulkareem is no stranger to controversy. Back in 2003, he released his biggest hit, Nigeria Jaga Jaga, which means “Nigeria is messed up.” That song angered then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, who publicly criticised the musician.

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Though it was banned from the airwaves, the song became widely popular and turned into a street anthem.

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