The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has issued a stern warning against the practice of nocturnal (nighttime) registration for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination by certain registration centres across the country.
In a statement released by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, on Sunday, the board expressed concerns over the safety and security of prospective candidates, cautioning the affected centres to immediately cease such activities.
“While JAMB appreciates the enthusiasm of these centres to accommodate as many candidates as possible, this should never come at the cost of the candidates’ personal safety and security,” Benjamin stated.
The Board listed ten centres engaging in nocturnal registration, including Thomas Adewumi University, Kwara State; CBT Centre Otukpo; Benue State Ebenezer International School, Rivers State; Jigawa State College of Education, Gumel; Lafiagi Emirate Information Hub, Kwara State; Zulqud Consult Ltd, Abuja; Klinnicapps Academy, Cross River State; Sani Mikaila Comprehensive College, Plateau State; Beeps Technology Ltd, Cross River State; FZX Media Consulting Ltd, Cross River State.
JAMB emphasised that this publication serves as a final warning, as no further notices will be issued before appropriate action is taken against violators.
The Board reiterated its commitment to ensuring fairness and transparency in the registration process, urging all centres to prioritise the well-being of candidates over financial gains.
“JAMB will not tolerate any violations of the regulations governing the registration process and will take appropriate measures against any centre engaged in questionable or exploitative practices during this exercise.
“The Board remains committed to monitoring the registration process to ensure strict adherence to all guidelines, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the exercise and promoting fairness and equity in the registration process,” the statement said.
JAMB has also called on parents to stop making unfounded allegations against universities over perceived unfair denial of admission to their children.
Benjamin issued the statement on Sunday following a series of complaints, including a recent case involving Godwin Nsan, who accused the University of Calabar of unjustly denying his son admission.
JAMB clarified that the candidate in question scored 201 in UTME with an aggregate score of 34%, falling below the university’s admission cut-offs of 55% (Merit), 35% (Catchment), and 35% (ELDS).
Benjamin explained, “He had unduly castigated the university, but when he finally provided the required details, it became clear that his child did not meet the admission criteria.”
Similarly, a senior public figure accused Modibbo Adama University, Yola, of admission irregularities, but according to JAMB, their investigation proved the claims baseless.
JAMB also responded to a case where a father alleged that his son, who scored 345 in UTME, was unjustly denied admission by the University of Jos.
The Board invited the father and son to its headquarters, where it was revealed that the candidate ranked 86th, while only 68 candidates could be admitted based on merit.
Benjamin said, “It is essential to note that in some universities, a score of 345 might rank a candidate as low as 300, depending on the institution’s subscription capacity. The father later apologised after seeing the ranking process.”
JAMB further warned against abuse of the “exceptionally brilliant window” introduced for candidates under 16 years old, stating that an unrealistic number of candidates have been registered through this category, unlike global standards where only a few qualify.
The Board reaffirmed its commitment to fair and transparent admissions, warning that a senior university official is currently being prosecuted for admission fraud, with four others under investigation.
“We urge parents to refrain from jumping to conclusions without considering the performance of other candidates. The UTME serves as a ranking examination by determining a candidate’s position within a cohort for the limited available spaces in our nation’s tertiary institutions,” Benjamin stated.