The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a seamless and credible 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), even as it acknowledged some technical issues that occurred during the recently concluded mock exercise.
The Board revealed that 1,039 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres were initially slated for accreditation ahead of the main examination, which is scheduled to begin on April 16. More than two million candidates have registered for the nationwide examination.
JAMB disclosed that the 2026 mock UTME was successfully held in 758 out of more than 900 approved centres on Saturday, March 28, with over 200,000 candidates participating. Although the exercise largely went well, some centres encountered technical glitches, a development the Board said highlights the importance of conducting mock examinations.
The Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, explained that the mock test fulfilled its objective of helping candidates become familiar with the CBT format while also revealing operational gaps that require attention.
He stated that centres that experienced technical failures during the mock exercise would be removed from the list of approved centres. According to him, the Board will carry out a thorough assessment to correct the identified issues before the commencement of the main UTME.
Professor Oloyede also cautioned candidates against engaging in examination malpractice. He disclosed that JAMB recently uncovered fraud networks using AI-generated images and videos impersonating top officials of the Board to deceive candidates into paying money for fake score upgrades.
He noted that, with the approval of the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, the Board will cancel the UTME registrations of at least 100 candidates who were found to have interacted with these fraudulent networks.
Investigations revealed that over 120 candidates had already paid money to these syndicates, which operate under deceptive labels such as “direct system” or “VIP assistance” packages.
JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, reiterated that the Board’s technological system is secure and cannot be manipulated, stressing that anyone involved in such fraudulent activities will eventually be detected.
Despite the overall success of the mock examination, some centres experienced significant delays. In particular, candidates in parts of Nasarawa State reportedly waited several hours before the examination commenced.
As preparations continue for the main UTME, JAMB has strengthened its collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to guarantee a smooth and orderly examination process.
During a strategic meeting with JAMB officials in Abuja, the NSCDC Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Operations, Mr. Phillips Ayuba, assured that the corps is fully committed to protecting the integrity of the examination. He warned individuals involved in examination fraud, extortion, vandalism, or any other form of malpractice to stay away from CBT centres.
Ayuba added that state commandants will be held responsible for any misconduct that occurs within their jurisdictions.
In response, Professor Oloyede commended the security collaboration and urged the corps to adopt gender-sensitive screening measures by deploying female officers to search female candidates.
He also emphasized the importance of security personnel arriving early at examination centres to prevent candidates from bringing prohibited items such as mobile phones into the halls.
In addition, JAMB recently organised a virtual training session for Biometric Verification Registration Officers (BVROs), who are responsible for verifying candidates’ identities before they enter the examination halls.
Oloyede described biometric verification as a vital measure in preventing impersonation and other forms of malpractice that could compromise the credibility of the UTME.
Technical officers were also trained on the operation of the Board’s newly introduced Alternate Test Engine during sessions facilitated by IT experts, including Mr. Damilola Bamiro and Professor Bashir Galandanci.
Meanwhile, the Director of Quality Assurance, Mr. Danladi Mohammed, delivered a presentation on effective field reporting, stressing the need for accurate documentation and well-structured reporting procedures.
With less than a month remaining before the main UTME, JAMB has reiterated that no form of malpractice or shortcut will influence examination results.
Professor Oloyede advised candidates to focus on their studies and rely solely on official information provided by the Board.
