The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has said only 16 out of about 980 centres nationwide experienced disruptions in the ongoing 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, describing the exercise as largely successful.
The Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this on Saturday during a monitoring visit to Computer-Based Test centres in Ibadan, Oyo State, including the University of Ibadan CBT centre.
Oloyede said the few challenges recorded were mainly due to power supply issues and minor technical glitches, noting that the board had successfully conducted examinations for over 1.7 million candidates within three days.
“Out of about 980 centres nationwide, we have recorded issues in only about 16 centres,” he said, describing the overall conduct as “superb.”
He commended stakeholders, including vice-chancellors, rectors and other academic officials, for their roles in ensuring a smooth process.
The JAMB boss also cautioned against linking reported security incidents, including alleged kidnappings of candidates, directly to the examination body without verification.
“It is unfortunate that people were kidnapped, but associating such incidents with JAMB without evidence complicates security efforts. The focus should be on ensuring their safe return,” he said.
Addressing concerns over early arrival of candidates, Oloyede clarified that the examination does not commence at 6:30 a.m., explaining that early resumption is strictly for accreditation.
He added that the board adjusted the examination start time from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. following feedback, though the change has resulted in longer waiting periods in some centres.
Oloyede further reiterated that the UTME is only one of the criteria for admission into tertiary institutions, alongside O’Level requirements, warning against over-reliance on examination scores.
He warned candidates and parents to steer clear of fraudsters offering “exam runs” or score manipulation, stressing that the board had strengthened its surveillance and enforcement mechanisms.
According to him, several suspects are already facing prosecution for examination malpractices, including a case where an individual allegedly continued defrauding parents from detention with false promises of upgrading scores.
“We have our own mechanisms to detect such fraud. Those who attempt shortcuts will be identified and sanctioned,” he added.
Oloyede urged the public to report suspicious platforms, particularly on social media, while commending security agencies for their support in tackling malpractice.
He reaffirmed the board’s commitment to sustaining a credible, transparent and hitch-free examination system for tertiary admissions in Nigeria.
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