The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has publicly accepted responsibility for the widespread issues that marred the conduct and outcome of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
During an emotionally charged press briefing held in Abuja on Wednesday, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, admitted that technical failures and operational lapses significantly impacted candidate performance. Holding back tears, the registrar stated that more than 379,000 candidates affected by the anomalies will be given a second chance to retake the exam.
JAMB Identifies Affected Centres, Apologizes for Staff Negligence.
Professor Oloyede revealed that 65 CBT centres in Lagos and 92 centres across the Owerri Zone, covering the five South-East states, were identified as locations where significant technical disruptions occurred. He expressed deep regret, taking full responsibility for the lapses attributed to JAMB’s internal operations and staff oversight.
“What should have been a celebration of hard work for our students turned into frustration due to unforeseen complications,” he said during the conference.
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Alarming Performance Stats Spark Concern Nationwide.
The UTME, which is the principal examination for securing university admission in Nigeria, witnessed an alarming decline in overall performance this year. Of the 1.9 million candidates who took the test, over 75 percent scored below 200—a worrying statistic for stakeholders in the education sector.
Data released by JAMB shows the following breakdown:
- Only 0.24% (4,756 candidates) scored 320 and above.
- 0.39% (7,658 candidates) fell between 300–319.
- 0.63% (12,414 candidates) scored 300 and above in total.
- 3.76% (73,441 candidates) achieved scores between 250–299.
- 17.11% (334,560 candidates) landed in the 200–249 bracket.
- 50.29% (983,187 candidates) scored between 160–199, which is often considered the minimum acceptable benchmark for many institutions.
On the lower end:
- 24.97% (488,197 candidates) scored between 140–159.
- 2.94% (57,419 candidates) scored between 120–139.
- 0.20% (3,820 candidates) fell between 100–119.
- 0.10% (2,031 candidates) scored below 100.
Legal Threats Loom as Candidates Seek Accountability.
In the wake of the disappointing results, reports have emerged that some candidates and their guardians are contemplating legal action against JAMB. Allegations of technical incompetence, poor centre management, and unfair evaluation processes have sparked public outrage and renewed calls for systemic reform in Nigeria’s examination framework.
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JAMB Vows to Implement Reforms and Restore Trust.
In response to the growing criticism, the examination body has pledged to conduct a full audit of its operations and to introduce stricter quality assurance measures across all CBT centres ahead of future exams.
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“As an institution tasked with shaping the future of Nigeria’s youth, we owe our candidates and their families a transparent and credible system. This mistake will not be repeated,” Oloyede emphasized.
