The rich culture of Kebbi was on full display on Saturday during the 61st Argungu International Fishing Festival.
Mayama Abubakar Usman’s 59-kilogram catch won the first prize, as the riverside town came alive with hundreds of fishermen and dignitaries, including President Bola Tinubu.
Usman’s impressive 59kg haul earned him two new saloon cars and a cash reward of N1 million.
An official weighs a fish on a scale caught during the Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival in Argungu Town, Kebbi State, in northwest Nigeria, on February 14, 2026. (Photo by TOYIN ADEDOKUN / AFP)
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Abdullahi Garba from Argungu took the second position with his catch weighing 40 kilogramme.
The joint-third prize went to Danlanso Dangani from Jega and Dogo Dauda, with their catch weighing 33 kilogrammes each.
No. 1, 2, and 3 fish will go to Mr President for Her Excellency (Remi Tinubu) to use in making you a special meal this evening.”
At the grand finale of #Argungu2026, Governor Nasir Idris presented President Tinubu with the top prize-winning fish, including the massive 59 kg… pic.twitter.com/fGYxM6zCHC
— Channels Television (@channelstv) February 14, 2026
The fishermen sold other smaller catches at a temporary market on streets adjacent to the main arena.
Apart from Tinubu, others who attended the Argungu Fishing Festival included the host governor, Nasir Idris, as well as the governors of Imo, Borno, Sokoto, and Jigawa, among others.
‘Richness of our Culture’
At the event, Tinubu said the festival mirrors Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.
“This festival has endured for 83 years, and it stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people,” the president told the gathering.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities that lie in properly harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
This year marks the first time the festival took place for the first time in six years, owing to insecurity, a development Tinubu attributed to collaboration.
“A socio-cultural event like this can only thrive and become a tourism attraction where the security atmosphere is conducive. I am pleased to note that significant progress has been made in combating insecurity across Kebbi and other parts of our nation.
“We are still working very hard through coordinated efforts between the Federal Government, state governments, and security agencies,” the president said.
He attributed peace in Kebbi to deliberate efforts, saying it “is not accidental; it is the outcome of intelligence gathering and community engagement,” he said.
No. 1, 2, and 3 fish will go to Mr President for Her Excellency (Remi Tinubu) to use in making you a special meal this evening.”
At the grand finale of #Argungu2026, Governor Nasir Idris presented President Tinubu with the top prize-winning fish, including the massive 59 kg… pic.twitter.com/fGYxM6zCHC
— Channels Television (@channelstv) February 14, 2026
The president reassured Nigerians that the country will win the fight against insecurity.
Argungu: a Festival Steeped in Tradition
The festival signals the start of the fishing season in Argungu, a riverside town in Kebbi State.
It is celebrated yearly around February/March and attracts fishermen from within and outside the state who battle to get the biggest catch.
The fishing competition inside the waters of the Matan Fadan river is the climax of the yearly festival, which also features musical performances and traditional wrestling among other cultural displays.
For the Argungu festival, fishermen who rely on traditional tools such as gourds, their bare hands, and hand nets chase the biggest catches in the river.
The blast of a horn signals them – fishermen – to plunge into the river for the contest, which lasts for roughly one hour.
Fishermen with the heaviest haul during the stipulated time get the star prizes.
The Argungu festival began in 1934 but has, over the years, evolved into a premier cultural activity, attracting thousands of tourists from Nigeria and beyond.
After the festival, the river is closed all through the year. The Sarkin Ruwa, who is the traditional water chief, oversees the Matan Fadan river during that time.
Kebbi Govt Thanks Tinubu
In a follow-up assessment on Tuesday, the Kebbi government has lauded President Tinubu for gracing the event, saying his presence at the Argungu festival brought spark and colour to it.
The Kebbi State deputy governor, Umar Tafida, said this during an appraisal of the cultural festival.
Tafida said Tinubu’s physical presence infused glamour and prestige to the historic occasion.
“Let me use this opportunity to sincerely appreciate the physical presence of Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the grand finale of the 61st Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival,” he said.
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