Argungu Festival 2026 Highlights Peace, Stability, Economic Growth — Tinubu

Argungu Festival 2026 Highlights Peace, Stability, Economic Growth — Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed the 61st Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival as a milestone in Nigeria’s return to stability and normalcy, emphasizing its role in promoting tourism, agriculture, food security, and rural development in Kebbi State and the broader northwest region. Speaking at the grand finale of the four-day festival, Tinubu congratulated the Kebbi State Government for hosting the historic event, which drew over 50,000 fishermen and thousands of visitors from Nigeria and neighbouring countries. He described the festival as a “powerful symbol of unity, resilience and peaceful coexistence.”

The President lauded the robust security arrangements, noting that cultural events thrive only in a safe environment. He attributed the return of relative peace to sustained investments in security, intelligence gathering, and community engagement, promising that the fight against banditry and insurgency would continue until fully defeated. “Farmers, fishermen, traders, and families must be able to live and work without fear,” Tinubu said, stressing the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting agriculture and rural livelihoods, highlighting Kebbi State as a key contributor to Nigeria’s food security agenda.

READ ALSO:

• US Military Boosts Support for Nigeria’s Fight Against Insurgency With Ammunition, Troop
• Afenifere Calls for Immediate Take-Off of State Police as Terror Threats Rise in Yorubaland
• CAF Confirms 2027 AFCON Dates, Reveals Host Cities, Stadiums Across East Africa

Tinubu also underscored the festival’s unifying power, noting that it brings together people of different nations, backgrounds, and beliefs in the spirit of friendship and healthy competition, while projecting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage to the world. The festival featured traditional fishing competition in the Matan Fada River, cultural performances, music and dance, canoe races, and wrestling competitions, giving participants and visitors a full showcase of the region’s culture. The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammad Mera, described the festival as a symbol of courage, reconciliation, peace, and friendship, linking it to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

At the competition’s climax, Abubakar Usman from Maiyama Local Government Area emerged the overall champion with a record 59‑kilogram catch, earning him N1 million and two vehicles. Runner-up Abdullahi Garba from Argungu caught a 40kg fish, while two contestants from Jigawa and Kogi states shared third place with 33kg catches each, also receiving prizes. All four winning fish were presented to President Tinubu as ceremonial souvenirs.

Before attending the festival, Tinubu inaugurated key infrastructure projects in Birnin Kebbi, including the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Secretariat Complex, a modern motor park, a three-lane dual carriageway, the Kauran Gwandu College of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, and the newly dualised Old Argungu By-Pass Road. Governor Nasir Idris welcomed the President’s visit and reiterated his government’s resolve to sustain the festival as a platform for cultural preservation, tourism development, and economic empowerment. He highlighted the state government’s achievements, including road expansions, urban development, rehabilitation of 16 general hospitals and over 120 primary healthcare centres, and the distribution of fertilizers, improved seedlings, agrochemicals, and farm implements to local farmers.

The festival’s return after a multi-year hiatus due to insecurity is widely regarded as a turning point in the northwest’s socio-economic recovery. Local officials and stakeholders noted that the event has boosted trade, tourism, and cultural pride, attracting visitors and business activity across Argungu and surrounding areas, reflecting a renewed sense of peace, stability, and opportunity in Kebbi State.

Argungu Festival 2026 Highlights Peace, Stability, Economic Growth — Tinubu