President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday described the Argungu International Fishing Festival as a shining symbol of Nigeria’s unity, resilience and peaceful coexistence.
Speaking at the 2026 edition of the festival held at the fishing arena in Argungu in Kebbi State, the President also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring improved security for farmers and fishermen nationwide.
He praised organisers for sustaining the cultural celebration for 83 years despite social and security 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, the strength of our traditions and the immense opportunities in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
Tinubu noted that the relative peace currently enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states is the outcome of sustained investments in intelligence gathering, improved coordination among security agencies and active community engagement.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the product of deliberate and sustained efforts,” he stated.
“I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency and insecurity will be won. Our farmers, fishermen, traders and families will carry out their lawful activities without fear.”
The President further reiterated his administration’s focus on youth and women empowerment, irrigation expansion, rural electrification and enhanced agricultural productivity, stressing that culture remains a powerful tool for national unity and tourism development.
Earlier, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris said his administration is committed to upgrading the festival to full international standards while driving development across key sectors.
He listed achievements including the construction of a 25,000-capacity ultra-modern Secretariat, dual carriage highways, extensive city road networks and the reconstruction of over 87 kilometres of federal roads linking Koko to Zuru.
In the health sector, Idris said 16 general hospitals had been rehabilitated and equipped, while 129 primary healthcare centres were at various stages of completion.
He added that the state constructed what he described as the biggest 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,” he said.
The governor also highlighted agricultural interventions, including the distribution of 50,000 tonnes of fertiliser, improved seeds and over 19,000 farm implements free of charge to farmers.
On education, he disclosed that Kebbi State adopted free education policies, constructed and furnished 2,100 classrooms under four mega schools, recruited 2,000 teachers and sponsored students to study medicine in Ethiopia, Egypt and India.
The highlight of the festival was the fishing competition, where Abubakar Usman from Maiyama Local Government Area clinched the grand prize with a 59kg fish.
Abdullahi Garba from Argungu came second with a 40kg catch, while the third position was jointly secured by Nasir Garba and another contestant with 33kg.
The Deputy Governor announced that the overall winner would receive two Toyota cars donated by the Sokoto State Government, bags of WACOT rice and a N1 million cash prize.
The second-place winner received a car, a Hajj slot and N1 million, while the joint third-place winners were awarded two motorcycles each and N750,000.
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