61st Edition Of Argungu International Fishing Festival Kicks Off

The 61st edition of Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival in Kebbi State has begun with a clarion call by the stakeholders to give the festival all the support and cooperation it deserves.

The event started with a motor-rally involving more than 30 vehicles from  Abuja yesterday which signified the take-off of the event in Kebbi.

Accordingly,  the motor rally team will pass through Kaduna to spend the night in Kano and from there will pass through parts of Katsina and Zamfara down to Sokoto and finally Argungu town, the venue of the festival where they will be presented with awards and prizes by the government.

In Birnin Kebbi, the festival was also declared open on Wednesday by the deputy governor of Kebbi State who is also the chairman main organising committee of Fishing,  Senator Abubakar Umar Tafida at the Presidential Lodge in Birnin Kebbi.

The events that featured in the morning included International Catapulting Competition, International Achery Competition, Camel and Donkey Races. Competition slated for the afternoon include, national polo tournament, international boxing and wrestling competition and in the night there would be an inter-state cultural competition displays.

Speaking when he declared the commencement of the festival, deputy governor of Kebbi State Senator Abubakar Umar Tafida called on all and sundry to come out to receive President Bola Tinubu who will visit the state on Saturday to witness the grand finale of this year’s festival in Argungu.

He said that his committee and members of various sub- committees have commenced action with respect to the festival.

According to him,  publicity committee led by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed Birnin Kebbi were in Argungu since Tuesday conducting screening of both home-based and visiting journalists coming to attend the event.

“Similarly, committee for the screening of participating fishermen have completed their task in which about one million fishermen are expected to enter into the River, ” Tafida said.

On accommodation and logistics, committees on these have already provided accommodation in Argungu, Birnin Kebbi and other neighbouring towns in Kebbi State.

The emir of Argungu, Sama’ila Muhammed Mera called on sons and daughters of Argungu to support and participate in the festival.

He said, “We expected to receive the number one citizen of the country that is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to witness this great Festival in Northern Nigeria. As such we must exhibit docrum throughout the festival.”