SUNDAY April 27, 2025 |
By thenewsdesk.ng
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has firmly rejected widespread rumours suggesting that candidates are assigned to examination centres outside the towns they selected during registration.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, clarified that all candidates are placed in Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres within their chosen towns, based on available facilities.
Benjamin stressed that the Board remains committed to prioritising candidates’ convenience and strictly adheres to their preferences among the options listed during registration.
“It is our firm belief that some parents are being deceived, misled, and defrauded by their wards and certain secondary school proprietors who promote this falsehood,” he said.
He described the rumour as “erroneous, malicious, and solely intended to tarnish the Board’s reputation.”
To address the issue transparently, Benjamin announced that JAMB has offered a “handsome financial reward” to anyone who can present credible evidence of a candidate being posted outside their selected town. He urged that such proof, if any, be submitted within 96 hours to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) via WhatsApp on 08056003030.
Benjamin noted that involving an independent body would ensure a fair verification process and finally lay the controversy to rest.
Comparing the situation to airline protocols, he explained that just as air travellers are expected to arrive hours before their flights for verification, candidates are advised to report to CBT centres 90 minutes before exams commence to complete necessary preliminary checks.
He criticised the misconception held by some parents that candidates should spend no more than two hours for a two-hour exam, stressing that they often overlook essential pre-examination procedures.
On a lighter note, Benjamin recounted an incident involving a female UTME candidate who refused to attempt any questions during her examination, following her grandfather’s instruction to “do nothing and wait for divine intervention.”
He advised candidates to abandon superstitious expectations and instead prepare diligently, noting that success can only come from genuine effort and preparation.
Benjamin reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and service to the public good, urging Nigerians to extend trust and patience to agencies working to uphold integrity in the educational sector.
