The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has confirmed plans to reschedule candidates affected by technical disruptions during the ongoing 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, offering reassurance to thousands of anxious students and parents across Nigeria.
The decision comes amid reports of system failures at some computer-based test centres, including a notable incident in Abuja, where candidates were unable to complete or even start their examinations due to technical issues.
JAMB responds to technical disruptions across CBT centres
Speaking during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education, JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, acknowledged the glitches and addressed growing concerns from affected families.
He explained that while such challenges are unfortunate, they are not entirely unexpected given the scale of the nationwide examination. With millions of candidates sitting for the UTME annually, even minor disruptions can affect a significant number of centres.
At one of the affected venues, the Good Success CBT centre in Utako, Abuja, candidates reportedly faced system breakdowns that prevented them from sitting for their exams as scheduled.
Benjamin maintained that the board is fully committed to fairness and will not allow any candidate to suffer disadvantage due to circumstances beyond their control. According to him, every affected candidate will be given another opportunity to write the examination under improved conditions.
Assurance of fairness for all UTME candidates
JAMB’s position is clear. No candidate will be denied the chance to sit for the examination. This assurance is central to maintaining the credibility of the UTME, which remains Nigeria’s primary gateway into tertiary education.
The board confirmed that affected candidates will be rescheduled, and where necessary, moved to alternative centres with more reliable infrastructure. In addition, provisions such as mop-up examinations will be used to accommodate those who miss their initial or rescheduled dates due to unforeseen issues.
This approach reflects lessons from previous years, where similar technical setbacks led to resits for large numbers of candidates. For instance, past UTME exercises have recorded widespread glitches that required the board to organise supplementary exams to ensure equity.
The UTME itself is a high-stakes national examination conducted annually for admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, with candidates assessed on a scale of 0 to 400.
Growing scrutiny on CBT infrastructure and exam readiness
The latest disruptions have again brought attention to the readiness of some accredited CBT centres. In the lead-up to the 2026 examination, JAMB had already taken steps to strengthen quality control by delisting several centres that failed to meet technical standards during mock tests.
Despite these efforts, the recurrence of glitches suggests that deeper infrastructure challenges persist within parts of the system. Issues such as unstable power supply, poor network connectivity and outdated hardware continue to affect smooth examination delivery in some locations.
Education stakeholders say the situation highlights the need for stricter accreditation processes and real-time monitoring of CBT centres during exams. There are also calls for increased investment in digital infrastructure to match the growing scale of the UTME, which now attracts over two million candidates yearly.
Still, JAMB insists that its monitoring systems are active and responsive, allowing the board to quickly identify and address problems as they arise.
What affected candidates should expect next
For candidates impacted by the glitches, the next steps are straightforward but crucial. JAMB will communicate new examination dates and venues directly to affected individuals through official channels, including SMS, email and the candidate portal.
Candidates are advised to remain calm and regularly check for updates, ensuring they do not miss their rescheduled exams. The board has also indicated that even those who miss their rescheduled dates for valid reasons may still be accommodated in subsequent mop-up exercises.
For many families, the reassurance offers some relief, especially given the importance of the UTME in shaping academic and career pathways.
While the incident has raised concerns, it has also reinforced a key principle in Nigeria’s examination system. Every candidate deserves a fair opportunity, and institutions must continue to adapt to ensure that technology serves as an enabler, not a barrier.
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