More than 2.2 million candidates on Tuesday began the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) across 966 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide, as the exercise got underway under tight supervision and security arrangements.
The examination, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is scheduled to run until April 22, with authorities assuring a smooth and credible process supported by enhanced technology and monitoring systems.
But the opening day was not without issues. While many centres recorded a hitch-free exercise, others experienced technical glitches that disrupted proceedings and left candidates frustrated.
At the centre in Karu, Abuja, candidates who arrived early were forced to wait as malfunctioning systems and delayed question uploads slowed down the start of the exam. Though the first session was set for 8:30 a.m., questions only appeared on screens around 8:45 a.m.
A CBT technician at the centre, identified as Nonso, blamed JAMB for the delay, saying repeated interruptions like this could unsettle candidates and affect performance. He also recalled similar delays during the mock examination.
However, a JAMB monitoring representative, Nnenna Akajemeli, pushed back, blaming the centre’s management for failing to ensure that all systems were fully functional before the exam. She stressed that accredited centres are expected to meet strict standards, including providing backup systems.
According to her, the affected candidates will have to resit the examination to ensure fairness and protect their chances from being compromised.
The centre owner, Alphonsus Ekpenyong, disagreed with the assessment, insisting the facility had performed well in previous years and was not responsible for the disruptions.
The incident has once again raised concerns about the reliability of CBT infrastructure, coming just a year after similar technical glitches in the 2025 UTME affected multiple centres and forced hundreds of thousands of candidates to retake the exam.
