The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that candidates sitting for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are not restricted to writing the exam in the same state where they registered.
The clarification was made by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja. His remarks come amid rising concerns and misinformation among candidates and parents regarding the location of UTME centres.
According to Dr. Benjamin, UTME candidates have the liberty to register at any JAMB-approved registration centre nationwide and choose any town within Nigeria as their preferred examination location — regardless of where they registered.
“They have the flexibility to register anywhere in the country and select any town nationwide from any registration point,” the statement read.
This clarification is especially timely as the 2025 UTME is scheduled to begin across Nigeria on **April 25**, with thousands of candidates expected to sit for the computer-based examination.
JAMB explained that the idea behind this flexibility is to allow candidates to select towns that are convenient for them, especially those who may have relocated or are studying outside their state of origin or residence.
“Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres are clustered according to towns for convenience, allowing candidates to choose the town where they wish to take the examination,” Dr. Benjamin stated.
He gave an example to further explain the process: “If a candidate selects Garki as their examination town, they must take the exam in a centre within the town and cannot be posted outside the town.”
In essence, once a candidate selects a specific town during registration, they are guaranteed to be posted to a CBT centre within that town. However, they must ensure they select a town that is most convenient to them at the time of registration, as changes after submission may not be possible.
This clarification addresses widespread confusion among candidates who believed that they were only allowed to take the UTME in the same state where they completed their registration. Many had expressed concerns on social media and through unofficial platforms that they might be disqualified or relocated during the exam process if they chose a town outside their state of registration.
“There is no policy or restriction preventing a candidate from registering in Lagos and writing the exam in Sokoto, Enugu, Port Harcourt, or anywhere else in Nigeria,” JAMB’s spokesperson emphasized.
“This flexibility is designed to accommodate candidates’ preferences and ensure they can choose a location that is convenient for them.”
With over 1.9 million candidates expected to sit for the 2025 UTME, proper awareness of registration and examination procedures is crucial. Misunderstandings or misinformation can lead to anxiety, unnecessary travel, and sometimes, missed exams.
In past UTME editions, there have been reports of candidates arriving at the wrong centres, or even in the wrong state, due to unclear information or assumptions about their centre allocations. Some also travel long distances thinking they must return to their state of origin or state of registration to sit for the test — often at high personal cost.
Education experts have praised JAMB for providing clarity and urged the board to intensify its communication efforts as the exam date draws closer.
Candidates are encouraged to carefully check their examination slips for the correct exam town and specific centre address. These slips will be available for reprinting from April 20, 2025, via the JAMB portal.
Once reprinted, the slip will contain the candidate’s exam date, time, and the full address of the CBT centre. Candidates are also advised to visit their exam centres a day before the test, to familiarize themselves with the location and avoid lateness on the exam day.
Additionally, candidates must arrive at the venue at least one hour before the exam and come along with the required documents, including the exam slip and a valid form of identification.
Over the years, JAMB has introduced various reforms aimed at improving the transparency, fairness, and convenience of the UTME process. The shift to Computer-Based Testing (CBT), stricter registration procedures, and centralized centre allocation have all been part of this transformation.
The board also established a central admission processing system (CAPS) to streamline the admission process into tertiary institutions, ensuring merit, transparency, and equal opportunity.
By allowing candidates to register from anywhere and choose their exam location freely, JAMB says it is further demonstrating its commitment to candidate-centered policies.
Dr. Benjamin reassured the public that the board remains committed to delivering a seamless and credible examination process for all candidates, regardless of their location.
“All arrangements have been put in place to ensure a smooth 2025 UTME. We urge candidates to remain calm, ignore rumours, and rely only on official information released by the board,” he said.
He also advised candidates and parents to avoid unofficial channels for registration or information, as these are often the source of false claims and misleading advice.
