UTME 2026: Over 2.2 Million Candidates Sit Amid Technical Glitches and Blame Game
Over 2.2 million candidates participated in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) yesterday, with the exercise conducted across approximately 966 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers nationwide. The examination, which is scheduled to run until Wednesday, April 22, is being administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) under heightened security measures and technological safeguards aimed at ensuring a smooth, transparent, and credible process.
Technical Difficulties Spark Mutual Accusations
While the UTME proceeded seamlessly in many centers, several others encountered significant technical difficulties. This situation has triggered a wave of mutual accusations between CBT center operators and JAMB officials, with each side attempting to shift responsibility for the disruptions. Some center administrators attributed the glitches to issues with JAMB's examination platform and delayed question uploads, whereas JAMB representatives insisted that the problems stemmed from inadequate infrastructure and poor maintenance of equipment at the centers.
Incident at Skillpath International Academy in Abuja
At the CBT center located at Skillpath International Academy in Karu, Abuja, where 4,000 out of the 2.2 million candidates were expected to write the exam, candidates arrived as early as 8 a.m. However, many complained about malfunctioning desktops, mice, and keyboards. Although the first session was scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m., candidates faced a delay of approximately 15 minutes, as the examination questions did not appear on their computer screens until around 8:45 a.m.
A CBT technician identified simply as Nonso blamed JAMB for the delayed start, lamenting that such setbacks could unsettle candidates and potentially impact their performance. "They delayed for about an hour because of uploading of questions. This can make candidates forget what they read," he said. "The candidates are supposed to just walk in, log onto their system and write their exams. The delay contributes to poor performance." He added that a similar situation had occurred during the mock examination.
JAMB's Response and Warning
In a swift reaction, JAMB General Monitor Group Representative Nnenna Akajemeli expressed displeasure with the center, blaming the management for failing to ensure that all systems were fully functional before the examination commenced. She emphasized that accredited centers are expected to meet strict operational standards and warned that such lapses could attract sanctions from the board.
"There's an issue, they have discrepancies. While some systems were working, others were not working. And so, the technical job person had to escalate," Akajemeli explained. "Some systems have glitches while others were working. As a result of the escalation, they've been asked to reschedule the whole process. So, they will redo it for this batch because it will now jeopardize the success of their exam. This is just in line and in keeping with what JAMB has promised to do for them so that nobody's chances are compromised. It is just to be fair to them."
She further questioned why the CBT center was granted approval by JAMB in the first instance, insisting that the center was not adequately prepared. Addressing the center owner, Alphonsus Ekpenyong, she said: "JAMB has a standard. 250 systems on the ground and then backup. Where are they set on backup? There's no backup system. So, why did JAMB approve the center if you don't have backup system?"
Center Owner's Defense
Ekpenyong, however, pushed back against these claims, insisting that his center was not deficient and had not encountered such disruptions in previous years. This exchange highlights the ongoing tension between JAMB and CBT operators over accountability for technical issues during high-stakes examinations.
Historical Context and Future Implications
Recall that technical glitches affected 157 out of the 887 CBT centers during the 2025 UTME exercise, leading JAMB to order a resit for 379,997 candidates. It remains to be seen whether the technical issues at Skillpath International Academy are an isolated incident or part of a more widespread problem across the 2026 UTME. The outcome of this blame game could have significant implications for future examinations and the operational standards of CBT centers in Nigeria.
