By Charles Abere
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has barred 23 Computer-Based Test centres from participating in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination after an internal review flagged technical deficiencies.
The decision follows the conduct of the 2026 Mock UTME, which JAMB says is designed to help candidates get familiar with the CBT environment while allowing the board to test system readiness.
JAMB spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said the mock exercise revealed operational gaps in some centres that fell short of required technical and operational standards.
“In line with our commitment to maintaining the integrity of the examination process, only centres that are fully prepared and compliant will participate in the main UTME,” he said in a statement issued Friday.
Beyond the 23 delisted centres, the board also issued warnings to others with minor technical issues. One centre has been permanently barred from all JAMB examinations.
Dr. Benjamin noted that the mock UTME served as a critical stress test for the board’s infrastructure and a quality check on partner centres nationwide. The move is aimed at preventing disruptions that could affect candidates during the main exam.
The board did not release the names of the affected centres in the statement but assured candidates that adequate accredited centres remain available for the 2026 UTME.
