Fesochukwu Jason
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has dismissed a viral report claiming that the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has been postponed, describing it as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the board urged candidates and the public to disregard the fake announcement, stressing that it did not originate from any official channel.
JAMB confirmed that all preparations remain on track and that the 2026 UTME will be conducted as scheduled from April 16 to April 25, 2026, across approved Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.
The clarification comes amid concerns following the mock UTME held on March 28, which recorded technical challenges in some centres. Out of over 224,000 registered candidates, about 152,000 successfully participated in the exercise.
To improve efficiency and prevent further disruptions, JAMB revealed that more than 20 CBT centres affected by technical issues have been delisted.
The board also issued a strong warning to candidates against falling victim to fraudsters, particularly those on WhatsApp claiming they can influence or upgrade UTME scores.
According to JAMB, such claims are criminal and candidates involved risk serious penalties, including cancellation of registration or withholding of results.
Reaffirming its commitment to a credible examination process, the board advised candidates to rely only on verified and official information regarding the UTME.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.