JAMB shifts arrival time for 2026 UTME after backlash
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a slight adjustment to the arrival time for candidates sitting the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, particularly those scheduled for the first session.
In a notice issued via its official X handle on Monday, the board stated that candidates for the first session are now expected to arrive at their examination centres by 7:00 a.m., instead of the earlier scheduled 6:30 a.m.Breaking News Alerts
JAMB added that the examination will commence at 8:30 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m.
“Attention 2026 UTME Candidates: This is to notify you of a slight adjustment to the arrival scheduled time, particularly for the first session, which is now 7:00 am as against the earlier published 6:30 am, while the scheduled start time for the session is now 8:30 am and end time 10:30 am,” the notice read
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Nigerians had criticised the examination board for asking candidates, most of whom are teenagers, to arrive at the CBT centres by 6:00 a.m., which means they must have left their homes before dawn.
Most CBT centres are several kilometres from the residences of candidates. The situation sparked criticism against the board in the past and was renewed this year.
The board also clarified that candidates are not required to reprint their examination slips following the adjustment.
The full daily timetable, as shared by JAMB, includes four sessions running from Monday to Friday, with adjusted timings across all batches to ensure smoother operations at Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.
This adjustment comes in response to long-standing feedback from candidates and parents regarding the challenges of very early morning travel, including safety concerns on roads before dawn and logistical difficulties for those coming from distant locations.
The UTME is scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026