Sani Haruna
The Main Committee of the Argungu International Fishing Festival has officially resumed activities to ensure the successful hosting of the world-renowned cultural and tourism event scheduled for February 2026.
The Director General of the Festival, Alhaji Sufyanu Garba Bena, disclosed this during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi.
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According to him, the meeting was chaired by the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, who is also Chairman of the Main Committee, following a directive from Governor Nasir Idris (Kauran Gwandu) for immediate and sustained preparations ahead of the festival.
Bena recalled that while the Main Committee was inaugurated on October 9, 2024, infrastructural requirements and other considerations necessitated the shift of the festival from 2025 to 2026.
He revealed that the committee reviewed earlier cost estimates presented by the Technical Committee, which initially stood at about ₦7.8 billion, but were later revised to ₦3.8 billion by the Due Process Committee at the governor’s directive.
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The Main Committee, he said, has resolved to further study the estimates with the aim of reducing costs and adopting innovative revenue-generation strategies to support government’s efforts.
Highlighting the vision for the 2026 festival, Bena stressed that the edition would be unique, culturally significant, and self-sustaining through improved revenue generation.
He assured that subsequent meetings will provide more updates as preparations progress, while reaffirming the committee’s commitment to delivering a befitting Argungu International Fishing Festival in 2026.