The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced that about 379,997 candidates in the just concluded 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) would retake the examination.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
“It was a combination of human error and technology. We are sincerely sorry,” he said.
According to him, while 206,610 candidates in Lagos are to retake the exam, 173,387 candidates are to rewrite it in the South East states of Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Anambra.
This followed widespread complaints of technical glitches, unusually low scores, and alleged irregularities in the just-concluded UTME.
Prof. Oloyede, who wept profusely, intermittently wiping his face with a handkerchief, said he took full responsibility for the negligence of his staff, revealing that 65 centres in Lagos and 92 centres in the Owerri Zone covering the five states in the South East would rewrite the exam.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has admitted to errors in the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), sending shockwaves across the country and triggering a storm of reactions on social media.
Despite assuring the public of thorough preparation ahead of the examination, the Board has now acknowledged that technical glitches still managed to affect the process in several centres.
“We set all machineries in order, regardless, there were still errors,” an undisclosed senior JAMB official stated, confirming growing fears among stakeholders.
“Over 300,000 candidates affected in the five south east states and Lagos state They will have a resit.”
Following the release of the 2025 UTME results, candidates and parents have flooded social media platforms with complaints and expressions of disappointment over what many have described as a “mass failure.” Alarmingly, even top-performing students—often referred to as “scholars” in their schools and communities—were not spared, prompting widespread outrage and calls for answers from JAMB.
Many parents and education advocates have questioned the integrity of the examination process, citing irregularities such as sudden system failures, abrupt logouts, and questionable scoring patterns.
In response to the public outcry, JAMB has announced that it will begin a formal review of the complaints on Thursday, May 15, 2025. A panel has been set up to evaluate the conduct of the 2025 UTME, identify any operational challenges, and recommend corrective measures to ensure improved standards in future exams.
According to JAMB, the goal of the review is to uphold transparency, restore public confidence, and protect the interests of candidates who may have been unfairly affected.
Stakeholders across the education sector are closely watching developments, as students and their families await clarity and possible redress following what has become one of the most controversial UTME cycles in recent years.
More updates to follow as the panel begins its review.
