A wave of anger erupted at an exam centre in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday, April 25, 2025, as frustrated candidates participating in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) turned violent following a technical glitch that delayed their examination.
The incident occurred at the Abimbola Excel School Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre in the Elesin area of Amuloko, located along Akanran Road in the Ona Ara Local Government Area. Video footage obtained by MeteorNg shows candidates visibly upset, as they vandalized plastic chairs and other items within the exam hall in protest over their inability to take the exam at the scheduled time.
Security personnel arrived on the scene to restore order, and the situation was eventually brought under control. However, despite the tension, no arrests were reported, and no injuries were sustained during the incident.
The cause of the delay was attributed to a technical fault, though specific details on the nature of the issue have not yet been revealed. This latest disruption highlights ongoing challenges facing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the smooth conduct of the UTME, a situation that has sparked widespread frustration among candidates and their families.
This is not the first time technical issues have led to chaos during the UTME. Similar problems were recorded in previous years, including 2024, when several candidates had their exams rescheduled due to delays caused by system failures. The persistence of such problems has raised concerns over JAMB’s preparedness to handle the high volume of candidates for the exams.
The 2025 UTME officially began on Thursday, April 24, with over two million candidates registered to participate in the nationwide exams. JAMB has noted that the exams are crucial for candidates seeking admission to various universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in Nigeria.
Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the spokesperson for JAMB, confirmed that the board had been working closely with its partners to address technical issues and ensure the exams run smoothly. He assured candidates and the public that necessary adjustments would be made where required to prevent further disruptions.
“Despite some technical hitches, we are committed to ensuring the smooth conduct of the exams and making the necessary adjustments for affected candidates,” Dr. Benjamin said.
A total of 2,030,627 candidates registered for the 2025 UTME, according to figures released by JAMB. Interestingly, among these candidates, 41,026 are below the age of 16, raising concerns about the pressure placed on young students to sit for the highly competitive exams at such a tender age.
The technical difficulties that led to the disturbances in Ibadan are expected to add to the ongoing public scrutiny of JAMB’s ability to handle the logistics of the UTME. In light of these incidents, many have called for improvements in the examination process to ensure that such problems are minimized in future sittings.
As the UTME continues across the country, candidates, parents, and education experts are hopeful that the board will take appropriate measures to address the technical shortcomings and prevent similar disruptions in subsequent exams.
