The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has confirmed the apprehension of at least 40 individuals for impersonating candidates during the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which began on April 24 and is scheduled to end on May 5.
In the meantime, parents and guardians across the country have expressed frustration over the 6:30 am check-in time required for candidates—characterizing it as unrealistic given the distance many must travel to the examination centres. Some parents recounted how their children had to leave home as early as 4:00 am—risking safety concerns. In Lagos, a mother lamented that her 14-year-old son had to travel from Awoyaya to Ikorodu at dawn while in Ogun State, a guardian narrated how his younger sister was posted to a distant centre in Ijebu Igbo—sparking outrage on social media.
There was widespread concern after a 16-year-old candidate named Esther Oladele went missing while en route to her centre from Ajah to Epe. Esther, after nearly two days of frantic online searches and public appeals was eventually found in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State—disoriented but safe.
JAMB’s spokesperson – Fabian Benjamin, while addressing these concerns clarified that although candidates are expected to arrive by 6:30 am for pre-examination formalities, the actual exam begins at 8:00 am. He stressed that early arrival is essential to complete biometric verifications and other protocols before the test starts. Benjamin maintained that 6:30 am is already daylight in most parts of the country—assuring that safety concerns have been considered.
Reacting to complaints about long distances to centres, Benjamin emphasized that candidates are allowed to choose their preferred examination towns during registration and that centres are assigned within reasonable proximity. He also mentioned that the 6:30 am check-in affects less than 10 percent of candidates nationwide.
In the meantime, in Yola, Adamawa State, parents protested disruptions at the Modibbo Adama University CBT centre after a generator failure left candidates stranded during the exam. They demanded the cancellation of results from the affected sessions and threatened legal action if the examinations were not rescheduled.
In Abuja, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies lauded JAMB’s efforts but noted the need to improve basic amenities at some centres including better ventilation and first aid services in order to ensure a smoother examination process.
