🔥 JAMB CRACKS DOWN ON 150 CBT CENTRES AHEAD OF 2026 UTME — NO ROOM FOR ERRORS OR MALPRACTICE
As preparations intensify for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has taken a bold and uncompromising stance to safeguard the integrity of its examination process. In a major development, the Board has announced plans to sanction over 150 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres found to have violated its strict operational and monitoring guidelines.
This move comes as part of JAMB’s broader strategy to enhance transparency, accountability, and fairness across all accredited centres nationwide. According to the Board’s latest weekly bulletin, every CBT centre involved in registration and examination exercises must ensure that their surveillance systems are fully functional and accessible in real-time from JAMB’s central control room in Abuja.
JAMB emphasized that the ability to monitor activities live is not optional but mandatory. The Board noted that this system allows it to observe and supervise registration and examination processes across the country, thereby eliminating loopholes that could encourage malpractice or irregularities.
Shockingly, during the recently concluded registration exercise, more than 150 out of the 989 accredited centres were reported to be “invisible” from the control room due to technical failures or deliberate non-compliance. As a direct consequence, JAMB withheld payment from these centres, sending a strong message that failure to comply with its standards will not be tolerated.
The Board further revealed that it had initially considered invalidating all registrations carried out at the affected centres. However, in a bid to protect innocent candidates, it opted for a more measured approach by conducting additional verification through advanced remote monitoring technologies. This decision underscores JAMB’s commitment not only to enforcing rules but also to ensuring that candidates are not unfairly penalized for issues beyond their control.
Affected CBT centres have now been issued a strict ultimatum to fix all technical shortcomings, particularly their surveillance camera configurations. JAMB made it clear that payments will only be processed after full compliance has been confirmed. More importantly, any centre that fails to maintain visibility during the actual UTME examinations will face immediate delisting and possible blacklisting from future participation.
Beyond targeting CBT centres, JAMB also used the opportunity to send a strong warning to candidates preparing for the 2026 UTME. The Board reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on examination malpractice, stressing that offences such as impersonation, result falsification, and other fraudulent practices will attract severe legal consequences.
To reinforce its stance, JAMB disclosed that more than five candidates involved in malpractice during the 2025 UTME have already been successfully prosecuted and convicted. This serves as a clear indication that the Board is not merely issuing threats but actively pursuing justice against offenders.
JAMB also highlighted the deployment of sophisticated technology capable of detecting malpractice in real time. With these advanced systems in place, the Board warned that it has become extremely risky for any candidate to attempt cheating, as offenders can now be identified and apprehended almost instantly.
“There is no shortcut to success,” the Board emphasized, urging candidates to focus on thorough preparation, discipline, and hard work. It further stated that it will not entertain excuses or pleas for leniency from candidates caught violating examination rules.
As the 2026 UTME draws closer, JAMB reassures stakeholders—including candidates, parents, and educational institutions—that robust measures have been put in place to deliver a credible and transparent examination process. The crackdown on non-compliant CBT centres and the renewed fight against malpractice signal a new era of strict enforcement and technological advancement in Nigeria’s examination system.
In conclusion, the message from JAMB is loud and clear: compliance is non-negotiable, malpractice will not be tolerated, and only those who play by the rules will succeed. Candidates are therefore strongly advised to prepare diligently, while CBT centres must rise to the occasion by meeting all operational standards or risk facing serious consequences.
