Abuja: The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says candidates affected by technical glitches will be reassigned the new Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) dates and centres. It said the move was to ensure that no registered candidate is denied the opportunity to sit for the examination.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Public Communication Adviser of JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, provided the assurance during the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund’s monitoring of the ongoing UTME. Benjamin addressed concerns from parents and candidates affected by technical disruptions at the Good Success Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre in Utako.
Benjamin indicated that the board anticipated minor operational challenges due to the nationwide scale of the examination and had mechanisms in place to address them promptly. He emphasized the importance of being prepared to handle problems as they arise. Benjamin assured that JAMB would continue to reschedule affected candidates and conduct a mop-up examination for those unable to write due to centre failures. He noted that only a small number of the 957 centres deployed nationwide experienced operational failures.
Earlier, Sen. Mohammed Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, acknowledged progress in the examination’s conduct but highlighted challenges needing urgent attention. The committee plans to intensify oversight to ensure improvements in JAMB’s operations and prevent future technical disruptions. Dandutse stressed the need for JAMB to take immediate corrective measures so affected candidates could sit the examination without further hardship.
Meanwhile, some parents and candidates expressed dissatisfaction over repeated postponements. Mr David Afolayan, a parent, reported his daughter was unable to write the examination after two days due to network failures, incurring significant transportation expenses. Similarly, candidate Eunice Peter, who traveled from Kaduna State, faced financial and emotional burdens due to logistical challenges.
The UTME, in its second day, is being conducted nationwide across accredited CBT centres.