The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) across Nigeria, with no fewer than 2.2 million candidates expected to participate in the nationwide exercise.
The examination began on Thursday, April 16, and is scheduled to run until April 22 across 966 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.
Candidates have been distributed into multiple daily sessions to reduce congestion and improve coordination.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, addressed technical officers ahead of the examination during a virtual briefing, where he called for strict professionalism in handling the exercise.
“The success of this examination depends largely on your performance,” he said.
He also commended staff and service providers for their roles in the mock examination but pointed out that several challenges were linked to poor assessment of CBT centres.
Biometric Checks And Examination Controls
The board confirmed that it has deployed biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems to maintain examination integrity and reduce malpractice cases nationwide.
According to Oloyede, candidates whose biometric data cannot be verified will be rescheduled for alternative sittings at designated centres.
“I urge all officials to ensure proper verification processes are followed strictly,” he stated.
Meanwhile, each examination day has been divided into four sessions to manage large candidate turnout and maintain smooth operations across all centres.
JAMB also reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for examination malpractice, warning candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
For additional reporting on Nigeria’s examination systems and education logistics, see coverage by Premium Times, which has followed JAMB reforms and CBT system development over recent years.
CBT Centres And Operational Structure
About 966 CBT centres are participating in the 2026 UTME, each required to meet strict operational standards, including stable internet connectivity, functional computer systems, and trained personnel.
A NAN correspondent monitoring a centre in Abuja reported that the first session began slightly behind schedule but remained orderly.
“The 8:30 a.m. session started at about 8:40 a.m.,” the report observed.
Meanwhile, at the Rosa Mystica Academy CBT centre in Kubwa, officials confirmed a largely smooth process, with 236 out of 250 registered candidates successfully verified for the first session.
“We had no technical issues during biometric verification this morning,” a verification officer said.
He added that compliance among candidates was high, particularly regarding the ban on electronic gadgets inside examination halls.
Logistics, Compliance And System Readiness
Centre supervisors confirmed that systems were tested ahead of the examination period to ensure readiness.
“The computers, cooling systems and all equipment are working properly,” a supervisor said.
He further explained that trial runs were conducted a day before the examination to avoid disruptions during live sessions.
“We conducted a dummy test and stayed until evening to ensure everything was in order,” he added.
JAMB also confirmed that several CBT centres were delisted following the mock examination due to substandard performance, alongside the removal of some technical officials.
The UTME remains one of Nigeria’s largest coordinated academic assessments, requiring extensive logistics and nationwide coordination.
Furthermore, the introduction of biometric checks and real-time monitoring is a way for JAMB to strengthen examination credibility and reduce the risk of malpractices.
The board adjusted arrival times for candidates to ease morning congestion while maintaining strict adherence to scheduled start times.
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