The winner of this year’s Argungu International Fishing Festival smiled home with two brand-new Toyota vehicles donated by the Sokoto State Government and N1 million cash.
The second position went to Abdullahi Garba from Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, who caught a 40kg fish. He received a Toyota saloon car donated by WACOTT Rice Mills Limited and N1 million.
More than 50,000 fishermen thronged the historic Matan Fada River in Argungu ahead of the competition, with some arriving as early as 5:00 a.m.
Speaking at the grand finale, President Bola Tinubu described the festival as a symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence. He commended the Kebbi State Government for the organisation and security arrangements and assured Nigerians that efforts to tackle insecurity would continue.
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, appreciated the President for attending and commissioning projects, including the 25,000-capacity Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ultra-Modern State Secretariat and major road constructions.
The Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Sama’ila-Mera, also highlighted the cultural importance of the festival and called for the completion of the permanent fishing centre project initiated by the Federal Government in 2020 but abandoned since 2022.
