Latest JAMB News Today 28th April 2025 |Golden News

JAMB delists five CBT centres, arrests 27 for impersonation

Five CBT Centres Delisted, 27 Impersonators Arrested, and Hijab Controversy Addressed

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has delisted five Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres during the ongoing 2025 UTME due to technical failures and non-compliance with operational standards. The affected centres are located in Kano, Sokoto, and Imo states, including Adventure Associate and Saadatu Rimi College of Education in Kano, two Penta M & F Technical Services centres in Sokoto, and Soronara Ventured Nigeria Limited in Imo.

Candidates scheduled to write exams at these centres are advised to reprint their examination slips to get new venues urgently and updated schedules. JAMB emphasized that excuses will not be accepted from candidates who fail to comply.

As of April 25, 2025, over 900,000 candidates have successfully completed their UTME out of the 2,083,600 registered candidates. The Board also praised the 883 CBT centres that met ethical and technical standards while warning that any centre found wanting will face blacklisting.

In a separate development, 27 individuals were arrested for impersonation during the UTME and have been handed over to the police for prosecution. JAMB reiterated its commitment to combating examination malpractice through biometric verification and surveillance.

Additionally, JAMB addressed a recent hijab incident at Caleb University. A security officer had wrongly restricted hijab-wearing candidates, but the situation was swiftly resolved after the university’s Vice-Chancellor intervened and condemned the unauthorised action.

Peter Obi Slams Early 2025 UTME Exam Times, Cites Danger to Students

Peter Obi has strongly criticized the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) schedule, warning that early exam times are putting young students at risk.

The 2025 UTME, which runs from April 24 to May 5, requires candidates—many aged 15 to 17—to arrive at test centres as early as 6:30 a.m. Obi condemned this as “reckless,” citing reports of accidents, missing students, and emotional trauma during commutes in unsafe hours.

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The former presidential candidate highlighted Nigeria’s deep-rooted educational challenges, noting the country has only 200 universities for over 200 million citizens, compared to Indonesia’s 4,000 institutions for 280 million people. Nigeria’s gross tertiary enrollment rate of 12% sharply contrasts with Indonesia’s 45%, further underlining access gaps.

Obi urged the federal government to massively invest in educational infrastructure, suggesting Nigeria needs at least 2,000 universities to safely and fairly serve its youth.

“Education is not a luxury; it is the bedrock of national development,” he emphasized, calling for urgent reforms to protect young Nigerians seeking knowledge.

Meanwhile, JAMB defended the distinction between pre-exam verification and actual test start times but did not address concerns about students traveling in unsafe conditions. Tragic reports, such as a teenage girl missing en route to her UTME centre in Ajah, Lagos, have amplified public concern.

JAMB Responds to Peter Obi’s Criticism Over 2025 UTME Exam Timing

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has responded to former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following his strong criticism regarding the early timing of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Obi had accused JAMB of endangering young candidates by forcing them to travel long distances at unsafe hours to sit for exams, calling the situation “reckless” and reflective of Nigeria’s broader education challenges. He urged urgent reforms to expand access to higher education, comparing Nigeria’s limited universities to Indonesia’s extensive system.

However, in a statement on its 𝕏 (Twitter) account, JAMB clarified that its exam sessions officially start at 8:00 am, not 6:00 am. The board explained that candidates are required to arrive by 6:30 am for necessary verification and clearance processes to ensure smooth operations before the exam begins.

JAMB stated: