The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reported a largely smooth conduct of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with over 1.7 million candidates successfully participating across the country within the first few days of the exercise.
Speaking during a monitoring visit to Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Ibadan, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, described the nationwide examination as “largely successful,” noting that only a small fraction of the nearly 980 centres experienced operational challenges.
According to Oloyede, the few issues recorded were primarily related to power supply disruptions and minor technical glitches, affecting about 16 centres nationwide. He emphasized that such challenges are minimal when compared to the scale of the exercise, reiterating that “like any human activity, there will be challenges, but they have been minimal.”
The Registrar commended the collaboration among stakeholders, including vice-chancellors, rectors, and academic personnel who served as supervisors and proctors, stating that their contributions were instrumental in ensuring the credibility and efficiency of the examination process.
Addressing widespread concerns among candidates and parents, Oloyede clarified that UTME examinations do not commence at 6:30 a.m., as widely believed. He explained that candidates are only required to arrive early for accreditation procedures, while the actual examination begins later in the morning.
He further revealed that the Board had adjusted the official start time from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in response to public feedback, although the change has, in some cases, resulted in longer waiting periods at examination centres.
On the issue of security, Oloyede cautioned against the spread of unverified reports linking cases of kidnapping directly to JAMB activities. While acknowledging isolated security concerns in parts of the country, he stressed that such incidents should not be hastily attributed to the examination process without credible evidence.
The Registrar also issued a strong warning to candidates and parents against engaging with fraudsters who promise to manipulate UTME scores. He disclosed that JAMB has already apprehended several individuals involved in examination malpractice and result falsification schemes.
In a related development, JAMB recently announced the release of results for 632,788 candidates who sat for the examination on its first day. The Board stated that candidates can check their results by sending “UTMERESULT” via SMS to designated numbers using their registered phone lines.
JAMB further warned against altering or misrepresenting result messages, describing such actions as criminal offences. The Board confirmed that some offenders, including candidates and even a parent, are currently in custody for attempting to falsify examination results using digital tools.
Meanwhile, the Board reiterated that the UTME remains only one component of the tertiary admission process in Nigeria, alongside O’Level requirements and institutional screening exercises. Oloyede stressed that candidates must meet all criteria to secure admission into their preferred institutions.
He urged members of the public to report suspicious platforms and individuals offering “exam runs” or score upgrades, assuring that the Board has developed advanced mechanisms to detect and prosecute malpractice.
Despite isolated challenges, JAMB maintains that the 2026 UTME exercise reflects ongoing improvements in examination administration, reinforcing its commitment to transparency, fairness, and merit-based admissions into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
