Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) decision to ban the broadcast of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa”, describing it as a violation of free expression and the right to information.
Amnesty International stated on its official Facebook page that the ban, which labelled the song as “Not To Be Broadcast” due to its critical tone towards the government, is an abuse of power.
The organisation urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately ask NBC to lift the restriction, underlining that the song’s criticism of those in authority does not justify suppression.
Amnesty International stated that the Nigerian people have the right to free expression and that there is no legal basis for preventing the song from being broadcast on radio and television.
The organisation also attacked NBC’s use of the Nigerian Broadcasting Code, which they described as profoundly problematic, as the foundation for the suspension.
Amnesty International stated that such measures indicate a growing intolerance of dissenting voices in Nigeria.
The statement further stated that the prohibition is incompatible with the ability to access information and media freedom. It urged for the immediate abolition of NBC’s stringent censorship restrictions, which have been utilised to restrict freedom of expression in the country.
Amnesty International cautioned that the arbitrary character of the ban will have a chilling effect on media outlets, potentially silencing artists and suppressing creativity.
Amnesty International also stated that the restriction violates Nigeria’s international commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which safeguard freedom of expression.
The association encouraged Tinubu’s administration to act quickly and revoke the ban in order to prevent reinforcing censorship and instilling fear and repression.
