The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede, has announced that the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has recorded minimal disruptions across Nigeria.
Speaking during a monitoring visit to Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Ibadan on Saturday, Oloyede described the nationwide exercise as largely successful, with only a handful of centres encountering issues.
According to him, out of approximately 980 centres nationwide, only about 16 reported challenges, mostly linked to power supply and minor technical faults.
“Like any human activity, there will be challenges, but they have been minimal,” he said.
Despite initial concerns surrounding logistics and turnout, the board has successfully conducted examinations for over 1.7 million candidates within just three days.
Oloyede praised the overall conduct of the exercise as “superb,” commending the support of key stakeholders, including vice-chancellors, rectors, and academic officials who served as proctors during the exams.
Addressing circulating reports of candidates being kidnapped, the JAMB registrar warned against spreading unverified information. He noted that while such incidents are unfortunate, linking them directly to JAMB without credible evidence could hinder ongoing security efforts.
“It is unfortunate that people were kidnapped, but linking them directly to JAMB without evidence complicates security efforts. The focus should be on ensuring their safe return,” he added.
He also clarified concerns about early arrival times at CBT centres, explaining that while examinations do not begin at 6:30 a.m., candidates are required to arrive early for accreditation procedures.
Oloyede disclosed that the board adjusted the official start time from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. following feedback, though the change resulted in longer waiting times for some candidates.
On the role of UTME in university admissions, he stressed that the examination is only one of several criteria, alongside O-Level results, urging the public to correct widespread misconceptions.
The registrar further issued a strong warning to candidates and parents against engaging fraudsters promising “exam runs” or score manipulation. He revealed that JAMB has intensified efforts to track and prosecute such offenders, with several suspects already facing legal action.
He cited a case where a suspect continued to defraud parents even while in custody by falsely promising to upgrade candidates’ scores.
“We have our own mechanisms to detect such fraud. Those who attempt shortcuts will be identified and sanctioned,” he said.
Oloyede encouraged Nigerians to report fraudulent platforms, particularly on social media, and commended security agencies for their continued collaboration in combating examination malpractice.
He reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the examination process and ensuring credible admissions into tertiary institutions nationwide.
