The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has defended its decision to ask candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to arrive at their centres by 6:30 am, following criticisms from former Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi.
Obi had raised concerns on Sunday via a post on X, where he described the practice as “reckless” and dangerous, especially in light of Nigeria’s security challenges.
He lamented reports of accidents, missing candidates, and trauma experienced by teenagers forced to travel early to distant examination centres.
“Setting exams for vulnerable teenagers as early as 6:00 AM while transporting them across far-flung locations is reckless,” Obi wrote.
“Already, reports are emerging of students getting into accidents and losing their young lives, some going missing, and many more being subjected to unnecessary trauma. Who takes responsibility when a 15- or 16-year-old child disappears or is harmed while trying to access their right to education?” he queried.
The former Anambra State governor attributed the situation to Nigeria’s inadequate investment in education, pointing out that the country’s Gross Enrollment Ratio falls far below global standards.
He further urged the government to increase investment in education, drawing a comparison with Indonesia, which he said had expanded its universities and examination centres to improve access and safety for students.
Responding to Obi’s concerns, JAMB, in a statement on Sunday posted via its official X account, clarified that while candidates are required to arrive at the centres by 6:30 am for verification and clearance processes, the examinations themselves officially begin at 8:00 am.
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“Your Excellency, I must assert that our examination is scheduled to commence at 8:00am, not 6:00am. While verification and other clearance processes begin at 6:30am, it is imperative that candidates are afforded adequate time to settle in before the exam begins,” JAMB stated.
The board explained that the early arrival is intended to avoid disruptions caused by late-coming, noting that Nigerians have a tendency to arrive late when a strict timeline is not enforced.
The statement added, “Given the tendencies often observed among Nigerians to arrive late when a start time is set without space for eventuality, this structured timeline is essential to ensure that all candidates are properly prepared and can perform to the best of their abilities.”
Earlier reports by The PUNCH had revealed that some parents also voiced worries over the early resumption time, arguing that it exposed candidates to unnecessary risks, especially for those assigned to centres far from their homes.
Obi maintained that a more aggressive investment in the country’s educational sector would reduce such problems, improve safety, and make access to education more equitable for young Nigerians.
