Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to ensure that candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are not made to suffer due to administrative shortcomings.
In a statement shared on his X handle on Monday, Obi expressed concern over the difficulties faced by students at registration centers nationwide, warning that logistical and systemic challenges could prevent many from sitting for the examination.
The former governor of Anambra State recalled that similar concerns were raised last year, particularly following the proscription of several Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers over alleged infractions. He noted that candidates, especially those dealing with issues at JAMB’s office in Amawbia, Anambra State, experienced significant hardship. Obi said there were high expectations that corrective measures would be introduced to address the challenges. However, he lamented that the situation appears not to have improved.
With the registration deadline set for the 26th, Obi warned that many candidates risk missing the examination due to ongoing administrative and logistical bottlenecks.
“Many candidates travel from distant villages, some even sleeping in Awka to secure access. If nothing urgent is done, some will miss the examination—not for lack of preparation, but because the system failed them,” he said.
He stressed the need for urgent and compassionate intervention to ensure that no young Nigerian’s future is jeopardized by avoidable administrative lapses, adding that students should not bear
