President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday described the 61st edition of the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival as clear evidence of restored stability and normalcy in Kebbi State and across Nigeria.
Speaking at the grand finale of the four-day festival in Argungu, the President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening tourism, agriculture, food security, and rural development nationwide.
The event attracted more than 50,000 fishermen from across Nigeria and neighbouring countries, featuring cultural displays, water competitions, traditional boxing, and dance performances.
Congratulating the organisers, President Tinubu described the festival’s 83-year history as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence.
“This festival has endured for 83 years and stands as a remarkable testament to our shared heritage and harmony,” he said, commending the Kebbi State Government for successfully hosting the event.
He particularly praised the security arrangements that ensured a peaceful celebration, noting that socio-cultural events of such magnitude can only thrive in a conducive security environment.
“The relative peace we are witnessing today is the result of sustained investments in security, intelligence gathering, and community engagement,” the President said, assuring Nigerians that the fight against banditry and insurgency would be decisively won.
He added that farmers, fishermen, traders, and families would continue to receive government support to carry out their activities without fear, stressing that traditional institutions remain central to the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Highlighting Kebbi’s agrarian strength, President Tinubu pledged closer collaboration with the state government to consolidate gains in food production and drive economic growth.
He also underscored the unifying power of culture, noting that the festival brings together people of diverse backgrounds in the spirit of friendship and healthy competition, while projecting Nigeria positively on the global stage.
Earlier in the day, the President commissioned several infrastructure projects in Birnin Kebbi, including the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Secretariat Complex, a new modern motor park, a three-lane dual carriageway, the Kauran Gwandu College of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences in Ambursa, and the newly dualised Old Argungu By-Pass Road.
In his remarks, Governor Nasir Idris thanked the President for honouring the state with his presence and reiterated his administration’s commitment to sustaining the festival as a platform for cultural preservation, tourism development, and economic empowerment.
The Governor highlighted ongoing investments in infrastructure, including the construction of an ultramodern state secretariat, expansion of dual carriageways, development of urban roads, and rehabilitation of flood-damaged infrastructure.
He disclosed that 16 general hospitals had been rehabilitated and equipped, with over 120 primary healthcare centres under construction or renovation. More than 1,800 health workers, he added, have been recruited to improve service delivery.
Governor Idris also outlined interventions in agriculture, including the free distribution of fertilisers, improved seedlings, agrochemicals, and farm implements to farmers, as well as reforms in civil service welfare through the implementation of the new minimum wage and prompt payment of salaries and pensions.
In education, he cited the construction and furnishing of thousands of classrooms and mega schools across emirate zones, alongside teacher recruitment and sustained scholarship programmes.
The Emir of Argungu, Sama’ila Muhammad Mera, expressed delight at the return of the festival after nearly six years of hiatus, describing it as a celebration of courage, reconciliation, and peace.
He commended the President’s initiatives in student loans, primary healthcare expansion, and infrastructure development, noting that major road projects would enhance connectivity and boost economic prosperity.
Announcing the results of the fishing competition, Deputy Governor Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida revealed that Abubakar Usman from Maiyama Local Government Area emerged overall winner with a 59kg catch, receiving ₦1 million and two brand-new cars.
Abdullahi Garba from Argungu placed second with a 40kg fish, earning ₦750,000, a car, and a Hajj seat.
Two contestants from Jigawa and Kogi states jointly secured third place with 33kg catches and were awarded ₦1 million and a motorcycle each.
The winning fish were presented to President Tinubu as souvenirs at the close of the ceremony.
