President Bola Tinubu on Saturday described the Argungu International Fishing Festival as a strong symbol of Nigeria’s unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence.
The President spoke at the 2026 edition of the festival held at the historic fishing arena in Argungu, Kebbi State. He praised the organisers for keeping the cultural event alive for 83 years despite periods of insecurity and social challenges.
“Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience and peaceful coexistence among our people,” Tinubu said. “It reflects the richness of our culture and the strength of our traditions.”
The Argungu festival is one of Africa’s oldest cultural events. It began in 1934 as a way to celebrate peace between the people of Argungu and neighbouring communities. Over the decades, it has grown into a major tourism event, attracting visitors from across Nigeria and beyond.
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials. He thanked governors who travelled to Kebbi State for the event, describing their presence as a show of national solidarity.
Tinubu also acknowledged the Sultan of Sokoto, who was represented at the ceremony, and extended goodwill to the Emir of Argungu and other traditional leaders in the region. He said traditional institutions play a key role in preserving culture and promoting peace.
President Tinubu used the occasion to assure farmers and fishermen of stronger federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
He said the relative peace currently enjoyed in Kebbi State and neighbouring areas is the result of steady investment in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and cooperation with local communities.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental,” Tinubu said. “It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency and insecurity will be won.”
In recent years, parts of northwestern Nigeria have faced security challenges linked to banditry and criminal gangs. Farmers in some areas were unable to access their farmlands due to fear of attacks. Kebbi State, however, has recorded improvements in security compared to previous years.
The President said his administration remains committed to ensuring that farmers, fishermen, traders, and families can carry out their lawful activities without fear. He stressed that food security is a top priority for his government.
Tinubu also highlighted plans to strengthen irrigation systems, rural electrification, youth and women empowerment, and agricultural productivity. He said culture and tourism can also support economic growth and project Nigeria positively to the world.
Kebbi State is known for rice farming and fishing, and the Argungu festival showcases the state’s fishing heritage. The fishing competition, which is the main highlight of the festival, draws thousands of participants who enter the river with nets and try to catch the biggest fish within a set time.
Earlier in his address, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris said his administration is determined to upgrade the Argungu Fishing Festival to meet full international standards.
He listed several achievements of his government across key sectors. According to him, a 25,000-capacity ultra-modern Secretariat has been constructed, along with dual carriage highways and improved city road networks. He also said over 87 kilometres of federal roads linking Koko to Zuru have been reconstructed.
In the health sector, the governor said 16 general hospitals have been rehabilitated and equipped, while 129 primary healthcare centres are at different stages of completion. He added that the state has built what he described as the largest veterinary hospital in Nigeria and completed the Argungu School of Midwifery.
“A total of 1,810 health workers, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists, have been employed,” Idris said.
On agriculture, he stated that 50,000 tonnes of fertiliser, improved seeds, and over 19,000 farm implements were distributed free of charge to farmers to boost food production.
The governor also spoke about education reforms in the state. He said Kebbi has adopted free education policies and constructed 2,100 classrooms under four mega schools. He added that 2,000 teachers have been recruited and that students have been sponsored to study medicine abroad in countries such as Ethiopia, Egypt, and India.
The highlight of the festival was the fishing competition. Abubakar Usman from Maiyama Local Government Area emerged as the overall winner with a 59kg fish. Abdullahi Garba from Argungu came second with a 40kg catch, while the third position was jointly won by Nasir Garba and another contestant with a 33kg catch.
The Kebbi State Deputy Governor, who announced the results, said the winner would receive two Toyota cars donated by the Sokoto State Government, bags of rice from WACOT, and a cash prize of ₦1 million. The second-place winner received a car, a Hajj slot, and ₦1 million, while the joint third-place winners were awarded two motorcycles each and ₦750,000.
The Argungu International Fishing Festival continues to attract thousands of visitors every year. Beyond the competition, the event features cultural dances, music performances, agricultural exhibitions, and traditional displays.
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