Gov Idris begs FG to make Argungu fishing Festival Nigeria’s global tourism jewel

…Pushes Executive Bill to alteration festival into economical powerhouse

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State ,has urged the Federal Government to reposition the historical Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival arsenic a large operator of Nigeria’s Blue Economy and tourism growth.

The Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, which dates backmost to 1934, remains 1 of Africa’s astir renowned accepted sportfishing contests, drafting thousands of participants and tourists from astir the world.

Presenting a insubstantial titled “Fishing Tourism and Sustainable Development successful Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Prospects of the Argungu Fishing Festival” to participants of Senior Executive Course 47, 2025, astatine the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Jos, Plateau State, Governor Idris who was represented by his Deputy, Senator Umar Tafida — outlined far-reaching measures to unlock the festival’s afloat economical potential.

In a connection by his Special Adviser (SA)on Media and Publicity, Yahaya Sarki, Governor Idris recommended that the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, should formally database the Argungu festival connected the nation’s yearly tourism calendar and called connected the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy to velocity up enactment connected the abandoned imperishable festival arena.

To guarantee effectual coordination, the Governor disclosed plans to sponsor an Executive Bill for the constitution of an autarkic absorption bureau to oversee the event. Such an agency, helium said, would trade a modern selling strategy that blends integer platforms with accepted channels to boost the festival’s planetary visibility and pull investors.

Idris stressed that the festival is not conscionable a taste showpiece but a strategical plus for occupation creation, fisheries development, taste diplomacy, and planetary partnerships.

“This level offers Kebbi State and Nigeria a veritable model to prosecute section and planetary audiences, deepening relationships that volition unfastened caller frontiers for economical growth,” helium stated.

He further underscored the value of Nigeria’s fisheries assemblage and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy successful supporting initiatives that tin make sustainable gross and employment crossed the country.

The Deputy Governor was accompanied by apical officials, including the Head of Service, Malami Shekare; Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed; Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Sani Aliyu; Commissioner for Livestock Development, Kabiru Alaramma; and the Director-General of the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, Alhaji Safiyanu Garba Bena, among others.

The station Gov Idris begs FG to marque Argungu sportfishing Festival Nigeria’s planetary tourism jewel appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.