Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa,” calling it a violation of freedom of expression and the right to access information. In a statement on their Facebook page, the organization criticized the ban, which labels the song as “Not To Be Broadcast” due to its critical stance towards the government, labeling it an abuse of power. Amnesty International urged President Bola Tinubu to instruct the NBC to lift the ban, asserting that criticism of authorities should not be a basis for censorship.
Amnesty International has asserted that the Nigerian people have the right to freedom of expression and found no legal justification for the ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa” by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). They criticized the NBC’s reliance on the flawed Nigerian Broadcasting Code as a basis for the ban, highlighting an increasing intolerance of dissent in Nigeria. Amnesty emphasized that the ban undermines access to information and media freedom, calling for an urgent repeal of the NBC’s strict censorship regulations that limit free expression.
The organization warned that such arbitrary bans could have a chilling effect on media outlets, potentially silencing artists and hindering creativity. They also noted that the ban contravenes Nigeria’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which protect freedom of expression. Amnesty urged President Tinubu’s government to quickly reverse the ban to prevent further censorship and foster a less repressive environment.
This comes after the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government and NBC, demanding the immediate lift of the ban on Abdulkareem’s song.