Over 2.2 Million Candidates Sit 2026 UTME as JAMB Tightens Monitoring Nationwide

More than 2.2 million candidates began writing the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Thursday, as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board rolled out enhanced monitoring systems to safeguard the integrity of the nationwide exercise.

The examination, which runs from April 16 to April 22, is being conducted across 966 accredited Computer-Based Test centres, making it one of the largest coordinated academic assessments in Nigeria. The UTME serves as a critical gateway for admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, and its credibility remains central to the country’s tertiary education system.

Registrar of JAMB, Is-haq Oloyede, charged officials to uphold professionalism, noting that the success of the examination depends largely on efficient coordination and adherence to guidelines. He gave the directive during a virtual briefing with technical officers ahead of the exercise.

Oloyede acknowledged improvements recorded during the mock examination but pointed out that some challenges were linked to inadequate evaluation of centres. He said the board has introduced performance-based incentives for officials who demonstrate excellence in logistics, supervision, and timely reporting.

To curb malpractice, the board has deployed biometric verification and real-time surveillance systems across centres. Candidates are also barred from bringing prohibited items into examination halls, with strict enforcement measures in place.

According to JAMB, candidates whose biometric data cannot be verified will be rescheduled, a move aimed at ensuring fairness while maintaining strict compliance with identity verification protocols.

Each day’s examination is divided into four sessions to reduce congestion and streamline verification processes at CBT centres. Early reports from monitored centres indicate a largely smooth start, with minor delays attributed to routine checks and system coordination.

Education stakeholders say the scale of the UTME underscores ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s education sector, including access to quality tertiary education and the need for continued reforms in admission processes.

As the exercise continues nationwide, attention remains on JAMB’s ability to maintain credibility and efficiency in a system that directly impacts millions of young Nigerians seeking higher education opportunities.

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