The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has addressed concerns raised by Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, regarding the early arrival time mandated for candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Obi had taken to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize reports that teenagers were required to travel to examination centres by 6:30 am, highlighting safety risks. He called the situation “reckless,” pointing to incidents of accidents, missing candidates, and broader issues in Nigeria’s education system.
“Scheduling exams so early for vulnerable teenagers, forcing them to travel long distances, is dangerous and irresponsible,” Obi said, stressing that such practices reflect Nigeria’s underinvestment in education.
In response, JAMB clarified on Sunday that although candidates are asked to report by 6:30 am for verification and clearance procedures, the exams themselves officially begin at 8:00 am. The board explained that early verification helps avoid disruptions caused by late arrivals.
JAMB wrote via its X handle: “Our examinations begin at 8:00 am, not 6:00 am. The verification process starts at 6:30 am to ensure candidates have ample time to settle.”
Meanwhile, earlier reports had highlighted parental concerns over the early start time, especially for candidates assigned to far-off centres. Obi further urged that Nigeria invest more aggressively in expanding its educational infrastructure, comparing Nigeria’s situation unfavorably to countries like Indonesia.
