The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has responded to criticisms by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, concerning the early resumption time for candidates sitting for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Obi, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, condemned reports that candidates, many of them teenagers, were required to arrive at their examination centres as early as 6:30 a.m. despite prevailing security challenges across the country.
He described the situation as “reckless,” citing incidents of accidents, missing candidates, and emotional trauma, which he blamed on the country’s poor investment in education.
“Setting exams for vulnerable teenagers as early as 6:00 a.m. while transporting them across far-flung locations is reckless,” Obi stated. “Already, reports are emerging of students getting into accidents and losing their lives, some going missing, and many subjected to unnecessary trauma. Who takes responsibility if a 15- or 16-year-old disappears or is harmed while trying to access education?”
However, JAMB, in a swift reaction via its official X account on Sunday, clarified that while candidates are expected to arrive by 6:30 a.m. for verification and accreditation, the actual examinations commence at 8:00 a.m.
The board explained that the early arrival was necessary to prevent delays that could disrupt the entire examination schedule.
“Your Excellency, I must assert that our examination is scheduled to commence at 8:00 a.m., not 6:00 a.m.,” JAMB stated. “Verification and other clearance processes begin at 6:30 a.m., to afford candidates enough time to settle down before the exams begin.”
JAMB added that considering the general tendency for lateness among Nigerians, it was necessary to create room for unforeseen circumstances to ensure a smooth process.
Meanwhile, several parents had earlier expressed concerns over the early arrival time, saying it posed risks to candidates, particularly those posted to centres far from their homes.
Peter Obi also emphasised the need for massive investment in education, noting that Nigeria’s Gross Enrollment Ratio remains significantly lower than global standards.
He compared Nigeria’s educational infrastructure to that of Indonesia, stressing that increasing the number of universities and examination centres would greatly enhance safety and accessibility for students.
