JAMB launches emergency review of 2025 UTME results after series of complaints
…Education experts to probe system errors
By Sodiq Adelakun
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has launched an urgent review of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) process, following a wave of nationwide complaints from candidates and parents alleging irregularities and discrepancies in results.
The move comes just days after the release of the 2025 UTME results last Friday, with the examination body confirming it has received an unusually high volume of grievances. Thousands of candidates have rejected their scores, raising concerns about the integrity of the testing process.
Many students have taken to social media, accusing JAMB of technical failures that they believe negatively affected their performance.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja, JAMB spokesperson Dr Fabian Benjamin confirmed that the Board has activated its annual systems audit months ahead of schedule in response to the public outcry.
“We are accelerating our regular post-examination review, which will scrutinise every phase of the UTME process, from registration to examination and the release of results,” Benjamin said.
He noted that the Board is working in collaboration with external partners, including the Computer Professionals Association of Nigeria, chief examiners from various tertiary institutions, and the Educational Association and Research Network in Africa. These partnerships, he explained, aim to deliver a credible and exhaustive investigation.
“If any technical faults are detected, necessary corrective actions will be taken without delay,” Benjamin assured.
Despite the reassurances, anxiety remains high. More than 8,000 candidates have already lodged formal complaints citing technical malfunctions during their exams. Reported issues include frozen computer screens, delays in logging into the system, and abrupt termination of exam sessions.
Initial analysis of the 2025 UTME outcomes shows that over 78 percent of the more than 1.9 million candidates scored below 200 out of a maximum 400 points. The figures have further deepened suspicions of widespread technical or systemic failure.
Benjamin, however, stood by the results as currently published, stating that they accurately reflect candidate performance. Still, he acknowledged the Board’s responsibility to probe all credible reports of anomalies.
Education experts have warned that if these concerns are not adequately addressed, the fallout could extend beyond this year’s UTME and lead to broader doubts about the dependability of computer-based testing and public trust in national examinations.
In the interim, JAMB has called for calm and patience from the public as the audit continues. The Board reiterated its pledge to maintain the credibility of its examination process.
“We are fully committed to integrity and openness. Every concern brought to our attention will be handled with the utmost seriousness,” Benjamin said.
