2026 UTME: Jamb blacklists 23 centres, warns others after mock exam
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has delisted 23 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Nigeria over technical deficiencies recorded during the 2026 mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The disclosure was contained in the Board’s latest bulletin, signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, as the 2026 UTME—scheduled to hold nationwide from April 16 to April 25—draws near.
According to JAMB, the mock UTME serves as a quality control measure to identify centres that fall short of required operational and technical standards.
“Following the conduct of the 2026 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Board has delisted 23 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres for technical deficiencies,” the statement read.
The Board added that it has issued warnings to centres with minor technical issues, while one centre has been barred from participating in any future JAMB examinations.
A total of 2,243,816 candidates registered for the 2026 UTME nationwide, with Lagos (321,814), Kaduna (303,498), the Federal Capital Territory (302,963), and Ogun (137,156) recording the highest number of applicants.
In preparation for the exercise, JAMB increased the number of examination centres to 1,000 nationwide—up from fewer than 800 in 2025—to improve accessibility and logistics for candidates. However, an internal review revealed that several centres failed to meet the required technical and operational standards during the mock examination.
