Several candidates and their parents were left stranded for hours on Thursday at the CMS Grammar School CBT Centre in Bariga, Lagos, during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination mock examination organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
Candidates and their parents were also stranded at OAK Management School of Business Studies, Ogba, Aguda, during the mock exercise.
Applicants were directed to report at the centre by 6:30 a.m., but many were reportedly left waiting without communication or coordination from officials. This led to frustration and confusion among the students and their guardians.
One of the parents said, “The kids were asked to report at the centre by 6:30 a.m. It is 3 p.m. and yet nothing is happening.”
JAMB introduced the mock exam as a preparatory test ahead of the main UTME. It is meant to help candidates familiarise themselves with the Computer-Based Test environment.
However, the process descended into chaos at the Lagos centre, with parents expressing frustration over poor management and lack of information.
“The problem is that there is no communication from the officials. We are all stranded for several hours now. Our children are inside unattended to. This is an exam that should not ordinarily take more than 1 to 2 hours. Some people have been here as early as 5am and this is after 2pm. We are still there. Nothing has been done,” another parent lamented.
Another frustrated parent lamented: Blame JAMB and not the centres. I just finished at my son’s centre. We got here at 6am, it took us just 11 hours. Across Lagos, it’s tales of woes upon woes. Few centres performed optimally, many could not access the questions due to terrible connections.”
JAMB had earlier announced that over 200,000 candidates registered for the 2025 mock examination, which was scheduled for Thursday, April 10, at accredited CBT centres across the country.
The board also assured the public of improved logistics and technical upgrades to enhance the exam experience.
Despite these assurances, candidates at the CMS Grammar School centre reportedly faced delays of up to eight hours. Some complained of fatigue, hunger, and a lack of guidance throughout the process.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that JAMB disbursed ₦397,030,900 in transport allowances to 1,909 officials involved in the 2025 mock examination.
The board’s Director of Finance, Mufutau Bello, disclosed this during a recent meeting in Abuja to assess JAMB’s preparedness for both the mock and main examinations.
According to Bello, the disbursed amount represents only the first tranche, covering one-third of the officials participating in the exercise.
The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, also revealed that the board has created a decoy website to catch candidates attempting to cheat in the 2025 UTME mock examination.
Speaking during an inspection in Bwari, Abuja, on Thursday, Oloyede said the initiative targets students who engage with rogue websites promising exam assistance.
He noted that around 180 candidates had already fallen for the trap, emphasising that studying remains the only reliable path to success in the UTME.
