JAMB to Reschedule UTME for 379,997 Candidates Due to Technical Issues
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that 379,997 candidates from Lagos and the South-East states will retake the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) due to significant technical challenges and irregularities that compromised the integrity of the initial tests.
The affected candidates include 206,610 from 65 centers in Lagos and 173,387 from 92 centers across the South-East states of Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Anambra. This decision follows widespread reports of technical glitches, unusually low scores, and inconsistencies during the just-concluded examinations, prompting JAMB to take corrective action.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, expressed deep regret over the disruptions.
He described the situation as a “sabotage” of the UTME exercise and took full responsibility for the lapses, stating, “It was a combination of human error and technology. We are sincerely sorry.”
Prof. Oloyede, visibly emotional during the briefing, admitted that the errors had unfairly impacted a significant number of students, pledging that the board would address the issues swiftly and effectively.
JAMB has confirmed that affected candidates will begin receiving text messages starting Thursday, May 15, 2025, detailing the dates and logistics for the rescheduled examinations. Candidates are also advised to regularly check their profiles on the JAMB portal for further updates.
This move comes amid broader concerns over the 2025 UTME results, where over 1.5 million out of 1.9 million candidates scored below 200, representing approximately 79% of test-takers.
This unusually high failure rate has sparked debates over the integrity and effectiveness of the current testing system.
JAMB has pledged to conduct a thorough review of its examination processes to prevent future occurrences and restore public confidence.
The board is also expected to roll out additional security measures to address both technical and human factors affecting the examination process.
Candidates and parents are encouraged to rely on verified information from JAMB’s official channels, including its website and social media pages, to avoid misinformation.
