Anger Erupts: Glitch Grounds JAMB Mock Exam Across Nigeria

Thousands of candidates registered for the 2026 mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) were left stranded on Saturday after a technical failure disrupted the exercise across several centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Many candidates, who arrived at their designated Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres as early as 6 a.m., were still unable to take the exam hours later, sparking frustration among parents and guardians. At Quiblaminds Comprehensive CBT Centre in Abule Egba, Lagos, candidates were eventually asked to leave after waiting for hours due to the system failure. One guardian, Mr Shile Giwa, said a candidate managed to answer only four questions before the system crashed and never recovered.

The disruption came despite earlier warnings from JAMB that candidates who failed to attend the mock exam after indicating interest could face penalties. The development has since raised concerns about the fairness of enforcing such sanctions when technical issues prevented participation.

Some parents shared their experiences, describing the ordeal as exhausting and costly. Mr Shola Oluwadare recounted travelling across Lagos with his son, only for them to wait for several hours without writing the exam. Similarly, Mr Kareem Kasali, who was present at a CBT centre on Lagos Island, described the situation as embarrassing, noting that repeated efforts to fix the server were unsuccessful.

The incident also triggered reactions on social media, with several parents criticising what they described as recurring administrative lapses. While some expressed outrage, others urged patience, acknowledging the challenges and expressing hope that the issue would be addressed.

As of the time of reporting, JAMB had not issued an official statement regarding the disruption or announced any plans to reschedule the affected mock examination.