Amnesty International has criticized the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for its decision to ban Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa,” calling the move a serious violation of freedom of expression and citizens’ rights to access information.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, Amnesty International condemned NBC’s actions, noting that the ban categorizes the song as “Not To Be Broadcast” due to its critical stance towards the government.
The organization described the decision as an abuse of power, highlighting concerns that it limits the ability of Nigerians to freely express their views, especially those critical of the government.
Amnesty International urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and direct NBC to immediately lift the ban on the song, emphasizing that the song’s criticism of the ruling government is not sufficient grounds for censorship. The group stated that it is essential for the Nigerian people to have the freedom to express themselves, and there is no legal foundation for prohibiting a piece of music that challenges the powers that be.
The organization also criticized NBC’s reliance on the Nigerian Broadcasting Code, which it referred to as deeply flawed, to justify the ban. Amnesty International pointed out that such actions reflect a growing intolerance of dissent in Nigeria, which undermines the right to free speech. According to the group, the ban is also a direct contradiction of the right to access information and undermines media freedom in the country.
Amnesty emphasized that the banning of Abdulkareem’s song represents an overreach of power and warns that such decisions could set a dangerous precedent. The organization raised concerns that these actions may lead to a chilling effect, discouraging media outlets from airing content critical of the government and stifling creativity across the country.
Furthermore, the organization argued that the ban violates Nigeria’s international commitments, particularly under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which protect the right to freedom of expression.
Amnesty International called for an immediate reversal of the ban and urged President Tinubu’s government to act quickly to avoid further restrictions on free speech and the promotion of a climate of fear and censorship.
