The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced it will reconduct the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for nearly 380,000 candidates following a major technical error that compromised results in 157 exam centres across Lagos State and the South-East.
JAMB admitted that a technical glitch affected 157 out of its 887 exam centres nationwide, leading to widespread low scores and incomplete exam content for candidates who sat the UTME in those locations. The issue sparked public outcry and prompted a swift review of the results, with many candidates and parents voicing concerns about the integrity of the examination process.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, publicly apologised for the error, taking full responsibility and expressing regret for the distress caused. “I appeal to the candidates and those affected by the error of our system to accept this explanation as the truth of the matter without embellishment. I apologise and take full responsibility, not just in words,” Oloyede said during a press briefing in Abuja.
A total of 379,997 candidates-206,610 in Lagos and 173,387 in the South-East-were impacted by the technical failures. These candidates were registered at 65 centres in Lagos and 92 centres in the Owerri zone, where the glitches led to incomplete or malfunctioning exam content.
The affected candidates will be required to retake the UTME, with the re-examination scheduled to begin on Friday, May 16, 2025. JAMB has assured that all impacted students will be notified directly through SMS, email, phone calls, and updates on their JAMB profiles. Candidates are also advised to reprint their examination slips to confirm their new exam schedules.
With the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) ongoing, JAMB has worked closely with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to prevent timetable clashes. Special arrangements have been made, particularly for candidates with Agricultural Science exams, to ensure they do not miss either examination. Most candidates with potential clashes have been rescheduled for Saturday.
JAMB has reassured candidates and parents that the overlap between UTME and WAEC exams will not cause significant academic disruption, noting that the curriculum and prescribed texts for both exams are largely aligned. Only the UTME’s unique reading text carries additional marks in the Use of English paper.
Of the 1.95 million candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, over 1.5 million scored below 200 out of a maximum 400 marks, raising concerns about the overall performance and the impact of technical issues. The Board’s decision to reconduct the exams is seen as a critical step in restoring confidence in the national examination process.
Affected candidates are urged to monitor their communication channels closely for updates from JAMB and to prepare for the rescheduled UTME dates. The Board has pledged to uphold transparency, fairness, and equity as it works to resolve the situation.
