The 61st Argungu International Fishing Festival officially began on Saturday at Mata Fada in Argungu town, Kebbi State, with the festival’s largest catch weighing 59 kilograms.
The Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, revealed the record in a statement on Saturday afternoon, highlighting the impressive scale of this year’s competition.
“61st Argungu fishing festival, biggest fish caught 59Kg,” Dare said.
The festival, which draws thousands of fishermen, tourists, and cultural enthusiasts from across Nigeria and beyond, saw excitement reach a peak as large numbers of the expected 40,000 participants surged into the river just minutes after noon, even before the formal opening ceremony and the arrival of President Bola Tinubu.
President Tinubu had earlier arrived in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, to commission two major infrastructural projects — the newly constructed State Secretariat and the upgraded Central Motor Park — before heading to Argungu to officially inaugurate the festival.
The Argungu Fishing Festival, dating back to 1934, was originally established to mark peace between the Sokoto Caliphate and the Kebbi Kingdom.
Over the decades, it has evolved into a globally recognised cultural spectacle featuring fishing competitions, traditional music, dance, wrestling, arts, crafts, and other festivities.
