The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has said the ongoing 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has recorded minimal disruptions nationwide, even as it warned candidates and parents against falling victim to exam fraud.
JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede disclosed this on Saturday during a monitoring visit to Computer-Based Test centres at the University of Ibadan.
Oloyede described the exercise as largely successful, noting that only about 16 centres out of roughly 980 nationwide experienced issues.
According to him, the problems recorded were mostly related to power supply and minor technical faults.
“Like any human activity, there will be challenges, but they have been minimal,” he said.
He added that more than 1.7 million candidates had successfully taken the examination within the first three days, praising the overall conduct as “superb.”
The registrar commended the role of university administrators, proctors and other stakeholders in ensuring a seamless process.
Their collaboration, he said, contributed significantly to maintaining order and efficiency across test centres.
Addressing reports linking recent kidnapping incidents to the examination, Oloyede cautioned against spreading unverified claims.
“It is unfortunate that people were kidnapped, but linking them directly to JAMB without evidence complicates security efforts,” he said, urging the public to focus on ensuring victims’ safe return.
Oloyede also addressed concerns about early arrival times, clarifying that examinations do not begin at 6:30 a.m.
He explained that candidates are required to arrive early for accreditation, while the official start time has been adjusted from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. following feedback.
The registrar issued a strong warning against engaging with fraudsters promising “exam runs” or score manipulation.
He revealed that several suspects are already being prosecuted, including individuals who allegedly continued defrauding parents even while in custody.
“We have our own mechanisms to detect such fraud. Those who attempt shortcuts will be identified and sanctioned,” he said.
Oloyede reiterated that UTME is only one part of the admission process, alongside O-Level requirements, urging candidates to focus on legitimate preparation.
He also called on the public to report suspicious platforms on social media, noting that security agencies are working closely with JAMB to tackle malpractice.
With the examination still ongoing, the board says it remains committed to maintaining integrity and ensuring a fair process for all candidates seeking admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
