The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by Nigeria's Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been disrupted by significant logistical problems, prompting widespread complaints from parents and candidates. Reports from April 2026 detail issues including last-minute changes to exam centres, candidates being assigned to test locations hundreds of kilometers from their homes, and technical failures at some computer-based test (CBT) centres.
Parents have expressed frustration and exhaustion, describing the process as chaotic and demanding an overhaul of the centre allocation system. The logistical failures have caused financial strain and emotional distress for families, with some candidates missing their scheduled exams due to the impractical travel distances. JAMB has acknowledged some of the challenges, attributing them to technical glitches and promising to reschedule affected candidates.
The recurring nature of these issues during annual UTME cycles has led to calls for increased transparency and a more robust, candidate-centric logistics framework from the examination body. Critics argue that the problems undermine the fairness and integrity of the high-stakes national examination.
