UTME 2026 Examination Marred by Technical Issues and Mutual Accusations
Over 2.2 million candidates participated in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) across approximately 966 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide. The examination, administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is scheduled to run until Wednesday, April 22, with stringent security protocols and technological safeguards in place to uphold integrity and transparency.
Despite these measures, technical difficulties disrupted proceedings at several centres, leading to a heated exchange of blame between CBT operators and JAMB officials. Each party pointed fingers at the other for the operational failures that affected some candidates.
Conflicting Narratives on the Causes of Disruptions
CBT centre administrators cited issues with JAMB's examination platform and delays in question uploads as primary culprits. In contrast, JAMB representatives attributed the problems to inadequate infrastructure and poor maintenance at the centres, emphasizing that accredited venues must adhere to strict operational standards.
At Skillpath International Academy in Karu, Abuja, which hosted 4,000 candidates, attendees reported malfunctions involving desktops, mice, and keyboards. The first session, slated for 8:30 a.m., commenced about 15 minutes late due to questions not appearing on screens until approximately 8:45 a.m.
On-the-Ground Accounts and Official Responses
A technician named Nonso criticized JAMB for the delayed start, noting that similar issues occurred during mock exams. "They delayed for about an hour because of uploading of questions. This can make candidates forget what they read," he stated, adding that such setbacks could negatively impact performance.
JAMB General Monitor Group Representative, Nnenna Akajemeli, countered by blaming the centre's management for failing to ensure all systems were functional. She highlighted discrepancies in system operations and announced a rescheduling for affected candidates to ensure fairness. "JAMB has a standard. 250 systems on the ground and then backup. Where are they set on backup? There’s no backup system," she questioned, challenging the centre's approval status.
Centre owner Alphonsus Ekpenyong defended his facility, asserting it had not experienced such disruptions in previous years and was not deficient in its preparations.
Historical Context and Ongoing Concerns
This incident echoes past challenges, as technical glitches affected 157 out of 887 CBT centres in the 2025 UTME, necessitating a resit for 379,997 candidates. It remains uncertain whether the issues at Skillpath International Academy are isolated or indicative of broader systemic problems across the examination centres.
The situation underscores ongoing tensions in Nigeria's high-stakes examination system, where technological reliability and accountability are critical for millions of aspiring students.
