Abstract

The study is focused on the National Broadcasting Commission's (NBC) ban on Idris Abdulkareem's track "Tell Your Papa" which was a pivotal moment in Nigerian media history. The primary objectives of this study were to investigate the implications of the NBC's ban on media freedom in Nigeria and to assess whether the ban was a deliberate attempt to muzzle the media. The theoretical framework that underpinned this research was social constructionism, which provided a nuanced understanding of the social dynamics at play. The methodology that was employed utilised a qualitative research approach with a detailed case study design, which allowed for an in-depth examination of the issues. The key findings of this study revealed that the NBC's ban effectively stifled dissent and suppressed artistic freedom, thereby limiting the scope of creative expression. The conclusion that was drawn from these findings was that state-backed censorship posed a significant threat to media freedom and democratic expression in Nigeria, a concern that was echoed by many media advocacy groups. Based on these conclusions, the recommendations that were made included the urgent need to re-examine regulatory practices and to strategically utilise digital platforms to bypass traditional censorship mechanisms that have being in existence for a long term in Nigeria.