JAMB
Olamilekan Abayomi
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has fixed Friday, June 13, 2026, for the mop-up examination of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, giving another chance to candidates whose initial test was disrupted by technical failures and other issues at some computer-based centres. The announcement came after weeks of complaints from students and parents about glitches that prevented many from logging in, answering questions, or completing the exam within the scheduled time. For candidates who were affected, the new date represents a second opportunity to sit the test without having to wait for the next academic cycle.
JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, explained that the mop-up is a standard part of the board’s process to ensure fairness when unforeseen problems interfere with the main exercise. He said the board had always planned for this provision and that no candidate who registered for the 2026 UTME would be denied the chance to write the exam. According to him, the mop-up is meant specifically for those whose centres failed or who were unable to access the system despite being present and ready at the scheduled time.
The scale of the 2026 UTME made the disruptions more visible. Over 2.2 million candidates were registered to sit the exam across 966 centres nationwide, making it one of the largest standardized tests conducted in Nigeria. When the exercise began in late April, several centres in Abuja, Lagos, and other states reported system malfunctions, delayed logins, and non-responsive computers. In some cases, candidates waited for more than an hour before being told the session had to be postponed, which created anxiety and uncertainty about whether they would be rescheduled.
Benjamin acknowledged that such challenges are not unusual given the size of the operation, but stressed that JAMB had put measures in place to address them. He said the board had been working with the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education during the monitoring of the exam and had briefed lawmakers on the steps being taken to reschedule affected candidates. The committee’s chairman, Mohammed Dandutse, said both JAMB and the CBT centres were grappling with operational difficulties but expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved before the mop-up.
For many candidates, the uncertainty after the initial disruptions was the hardest part. Some had traveled long distances to their centres, only to leave without writing a single question. Others reported that their details were missing from the system or that the exam questions failed to load even after the timer started. JAMB said it had reviewed reports from affected centres and used biometric and attendance records to compile the list of those eligible for the mop-up, to avoid abuse of the process.
The board also used the opportunity to address malpractice concerns that emerged during the main exam. Investigations uncovered syndicates involving school proprietors, tutorial centres, and even a few JAMB officials who attempted to facilitate impersonation and identity theft. As a result, several examination towns were deactivated, and affected candidates are being reassigned to the nearest available centres. JAMB warned that students caught in impersonation cases could face expulsion and prosecution under the Examination Malpractice Act of 1999, and that their institutions would be notified.
Candidates scheduled for the June 13 mop-up are advised to reprint their examination slips once the portal is updated, as the new slip will carry the revised date, time, and venue. JAMB has urged students to arrive at their centres at least an hour before the start time and to avoid bringing prohibited items that could lead to disqualification. The board also reminded parents and guardians not to crowd the centres, noting that security agencies would be present to maintain order and prevent interference.
With the mop-up date now set, attention has shifted to how smoothly the exercise will run and whether the measures put in place will prevent a repeat of the April disruptions. For the candidates involved, the exam is a chance to move forward with admissions for the 2026 academic session, and many are hoping for a glitch-free experience this time. Given how much depends on this resit,
