No fewer than 40 impersonators have been arrested and are currently facing prosecution for attempting to sit the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on behalf of candidates, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed.
This development comes as many parents and guardians express frustration over the early 6:30 am resumption time for the UTME, noting that candidates must travel long distances to their assigned examination centres.
The 2025 UTME, which commenced on Thursday, April 24, is scheduled to run until Monday, May 5, across accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide, with over 2,030,627 candidates registered.
Parents Raise Concerns Over UTME Early Resumption Time
Speaking to our correspondent, a mother residing in Awoyaya, Lekki, Lagos, lamented that her 14-year-old son was posted to a centre in Ikorodu, which may cause him to miss the exam.
“The examination slip states that candidates are expected at the centre by 6:30 am. So, that means my son must be on the road by 4 am. I don’t drive. We don’t have a car. He would have to take a bus. Even if I decide to go with him, how are we supposed to get a bus at that time, and how are we supposed to get to Ikorodu before 6:30 am?”
“This is wickedness. JAMB should look into this and move the exam forward. 6:30 am for an examination is too early.”
Other guardians and candidates also took to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to air their frustrations over the UTME schedule.
Social media activist Rinu Oduala tweeted:
“Again, why are you scheduling exams for 6:30 am, @JAMBHQ? And expect teenagers to find their ways 50km plus away from home? How can educated people make nonsensical policies for citizens and kids in this country?”
Missing Candidate Found in Ogun State
In a related incident, Esther Oladele, a 16-year-old UTME candidate, was declared missing after losing her way while traveling from Ajah to Epe for her examination. According to her brother, Richard (@Rickson_), she mistakenly boarded the wrong bus and sent a distressing message before going silent.
Fortunately, after nearly 48 hours, Esther was found in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. An emotional update posted online read:
“We are overjoyed to share that Esther is home safe and sound! Words cannot express our gratitude to everyone who played a part in bringing her back.”
Photos posted online showed her in disheveled condition, highlighting the dangers candidates face during this crucial national examination.
JAMB Clarifies Exam Start Time
Reacting to the widespread complaints, JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, clarified that the UTME itself starts at 8:00 am daily, not 6:00 am or 6:30 am, as misinterpreted.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, he explained:
“Our exams start at 8 am. There is no exam by 6 am or 6:30 am. Candidates are expected at the CBT centre by 6:30 am for pre-examination formalities.”
Benjamin stressed the importance of early arrival for biometric verification and other checks to avoid late coming and disruptions.
“Once we tell them the examination is by 8 am, they will show up at 8:30 am or 10 am and start telling us cock and bull stories.”
Distance to Centres Not Excessive – JAMB
Addressing concerns about faraway centres, Benjamin emphasized that candidates select their preferred examination towns during registration and that JAMB ensures centres are within reasonable proximity.
“We look at centres that are close to the towns these candidates have chosen, and we fix them in a nearby centre. It is a matter of proximity.”
He added that only a small fraction—less than one percent—have to travel significantly.
Benjamin further assured that as Nigeria’s infrastructure improves, JAMB will enhance its CBT centre distribution for future Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations.
Disruptions in Adamawa: Parents Demand Cancellation
Meanwhile, parents of candidates at the Modibbo Adama University CBT centre in Yola have called for the cancellation of UTME sessions affected by a power failure.
Candidates were left stranded after the generator powering the examination systems ran out of fuel, halting the exam for over 30 minutes.
One parent, Peter Vandu, whose daughter was affected, said:
“We cannot allow our children’s future to be jeopardized because of negligence. JAMB must cancel the exercise at this centre and reschedule it, or we will seek legal redress.”
Other affected parents echoed similar sentiments, threatening legal action if JAMB releases results from disrupted sessions without a rescheduled retake.
House of Reps Pledges Support for JAMB
Following reports of challenges with the 2025 UTME, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies has pledged to assist JAMB in improving the examination process.
During an oversight visit, Committee Chairman Oboku Oforji commended JAMB, describing the UTME as “a vehicle young Nigerians use in their journey to self-discovery,” while noting areas needing improvement such as the provision of first aid and better ventilation at centres.
