Kebbi

Kebbi is a north-western Nigerian state bordering Niger Republic and Benin Republic, predominantly Hausa-Fulani with significant Zabarma, Kambari and Dakarkari communities. Its capital, Birnin Kebbi, is the seat of the historic Kebbi Emirate. The state is best known nationally for the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, held on the Matan Fada channel of the Rima River in Argungu town, one of Nigeria's most recognised cultural festivals. Kebbi's location along the Rima and Niger river valleys makes it one of the country's most significant centres for irrigated rice and wheat farming, underpinning its nickname, Land of Equity.

The Kebbi Kingdom emerged in the sixteenth century under Kanta, who broke away from the Songhai Empire's authority to establish an independent and militarily powerful state that resisted incorporation into neighbouring Hausa and Sokoto structures for extended periods. During the 1804 jihad led by Usman dan Fodio, Kebbi came under pressure from the emerging Sokoto Caliphate, and it was later reorganised as an emirate within the caliphate structure while retaining strong local identity. Under British colonial rule the area was administered within Sokoto Province of Northern Nigeria. After independence it remained part of Sokoto State, and Kebbi State was created on 27 August 1991 when Sokoto State was split, with Birnin Kebbi becoming the new capital.

Kebbi State lies within the Sudan savanna, bordering the Sahel, and is shaped substantially by the Niger and Rima rivers, which support one of Nigeria's largest irrigated farming areas through schemes built along their floodplains. Terrain is generally flat with sandy soils, becoming drier toward the north. Rainfall ranges from roughly 600 to 1,000mm annually, concentrated between June and September, with a dry season and Harmattan winds from November to February. The Rima valley and its floodplains provide fertile land for dry-season farming once flood waters recede. The state's river systems also support fishing, most visibly showcased during the Argungu fishing festival on the Matan Fada channel.

Kebbi's economy is heavily agricultural, and the state is one of Nigeria's leading producers of rice and wheat, grown extensively through irrigation along the Niger and Rima river valleys, alongside millet, sorghum, onions and other vegetables. Livestock rearing, including cattle, sheep and goats, is widespread. Fishing along the Niger and Rima rivers is significant, particularly around Argungu, and gains national visibility during the annual Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival. Trade in agricultural produce links Kebbi to markets across Nigeria and into Niger Republic. Public sector employment centred on Birnin Kebbi, along with milling and agro-processing of rice and grains, supports much of the non-farming workforce.