Kebbi Fisherman Nets 59kg Catch, Wins Big at Argungu Festival

Abubakar Usman, a fisherman from Maiyama Local Government Area in Kebbi State, stole the spotlight at this year’s Argungu International Fishing Festival by landing a massive 59-kilogram fish, earning him the title of overall champion.

For his remarkable catch, Usman was awarded two brand-new Toyota vehicles by the Sokoto State Government, along with a cash prize of N1 million.

Second place went to Abdullahi Garba of Argungu Local Government Area, whose 40-kilogram fish secured him a Toyota saloon car donated by WACOTT Rice Mills Limited and N1 million in cash.

The third-place position was shared by Danlansu Dankani of Jega and another contestant, each presenting 34-kilogram catches. Both received N1 million and a motorcycle.

The festival’s grand finale, held in Argungu, drew a large audience and high-profile guests, including President Bola Tinubu, who served as the Special Guest of Honour.

Tinubu praised the festival as more than a competition, calling it a celebration of unity, cultural pride, and peaceful coexistence, while highlighting its potential to drive economic growth through tourism and natural resources.

The President also commended the Kebbi State Government for ensuring security and smooth organisation, applauding Governor Nasir Idris for his development initiatives.

Tinubu expressed gratitude for having the state’s ultra-modern secretariat named after him and promised continued federal support to boost peace and tourism in the region.

Governor Idris, in his address, cited key achievements of his administration, including expanded road networks, rehabilitation of health facilities, distribution of agricultural inputs, and timely payment of workers’ salaries, asserting that the government has fulfilled a significant portion of its campaign promises within three years.

Meanwhile, the Emir of Argungu, Muhammad Sama’ila-Mera, addressed a minor disruption that occurred before the President’s arrival, when more than 50,000 fishermen reportedly entered the Matan Fada River ahead of schedule.

The monarch underscored the festival’s cultural importance and urged the federal government to revive the stalled permanent fishing centre project, previously recognised by UNESCO.