JAMB Orders Re-Exam for Nearly 400,000 Students After 2025 UTME Tech Glitch

By Achimi Muktar

In a dramatic turn of events that has gripped families and students across Nigeria, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a full-scale reconduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for nearly 380,000 candidates affected by technical failures in 157 centres nationwide.

The Board made the announcement on Tuesday, revealing that the re-examination will begin on Friday, May 16, 2025, following weeks of public outrage, media scrutiny, and growing concerns over the integrity of the annual exam.

This move, JAMB says, is to ensure fairness and restore confidence in the examination process. The affected candidates—206,610 in Lagos and 173,387 in the South-East's Owerri zone—had encountered serious glitches during the April exam session, including missing questions and incomplete exam content.

“We have decided that all candidates affected in the 157 malfunctioning centres, out of the 882 used nationwide, will be contacted directly to retake their exams,” the Board announced.

JAMB also confirmed that official notifications will be sent via SMS, email, direct calls, and updates on each candidate's JAMB profile. Candidates are expected to reprint their exam slips to view their new schedule and venue.

What Went Wrong?

The Traffic reported that a major technical error—specifically, “an omission in examination items”—crippled UTME sessions in specific operational zones, predominantly Lagos and the South-East. The fallout was immediate, with thousands of students left in confusion and panic, unable to complete their tests or facing abrupt exam terminations.

Social media was flooded with desperate calls from parents and candidates demanding clarity and accountability, prompting JAMB to launch an internal investigation that confirmed the extent of the crisis.

WAEC Clash: Problem Averted

The Board also addressed fears of a scheduling conflict with the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), confirming that it had reached a compromise with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

“While WAEC examinations are ongoing, we have contacted the Council and they have graciously agreed to accommodate us within their time slot,” JAMB stated, praising WAEC for its support.

JAMB further explained that for students scheduled to take both UTME and WAEC on the same day—particularly Agricultural Science on Friday—special arrangements have been made. Most of these candidates will now sit for their UTME papers on Saturday, effectively removing the clash.

The Board reassured students that there will be no significant academic disruption, as the syllabi and reading materials for both UTME and WAEC are largely similar. The only major difference, JAMB noted, is the UTME’s unique prescribed text, which adds 10 bonus marks to the Use of English paper.

What’s Next?

For the affected 379,997 candidates, May 16 marks a second chance—an opportunity to reclaim their future without the shadow of technical failures.

As the country watches closely, JAMB’s swift response will be a major test not just of its credibility, but of the broader Nigerian education system’s ability to correct itself when it falters.

Candidates are urged to stay alert for communication from the Board, reprint their new slips, and prepare for the reconducted exams that could define their next academic chapter.