379,997 Candidates To Retake 2025 UTME Amid Technical Glitches, JAMB Announces.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that approximately 379,997 candidates who participated in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will be required to retake the test due to a combination of human errors and technical issues.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, expressed deep regret over the disruptions, stating, “It was a combination of human error and technology. We are sincerely sorry.” Visibly emotional, Prof. Oloyede was seen wiping tears with a handkerchief as he accepted full responsibility for the lapses, particularly citing negligence by some JAMB staff.
The decision follows widespread complaints from candidates about technical glitches, unusually low scores, and alleged irregularities during the recently concluded UTME. Of the affected candidates, 206,610 are based in Lagos and will retake the exam at 65 centres, while 173,387 candidates across the South East states of Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Anambra will rewrite at 92 centres in the Owerri Zone.
The announcement has sparked significant attention, coming on the heels of other UTME-related controversies, including criticism of an Ogun State local government chairman over the distribution of UTME forms to non-indigenes, a tragic case of a 19-year-old in Lagos who took their own life after receiving a low score, and JAMB’s revelation that 96% of A-level results submitted for Direct Entry at Bayero University, Kano, were fraudulent.
JAMB has assured candidates that measures are being put in place to ensure a seamless retake process, though no specific date for the re-examination has been confirmed. Prof. Oloyede reiterated the board’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the examination process and restoring public confidence.
As stakeholders await further updates, the affected candidates are urged to stay informed through official JAMB channels for details on the rescheduling and logistics of the retake.
