JAMB Counters Peter Obi’s Criticism on Early Exam Timing, Clarifies UTME Process

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially responded to former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi, refuting claims that it schedules its examinations at dangerous early morning hours. This exchange has stirred public debate about systemic challenges in Nigeria’s education sector, particularly regarding access, safety, and infrastructure.

Peter Obi had raised alarm over the timing and logistics of JAMB’s ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), arguing that vulnerable teenagers are being exposed to life-threatening risks due to early morning exam schedules and distant postings.

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Early Morning Scheduling Debate Centers on Exam Safety Concerns

The focus keyword here is “Scheduling,” as the scheduling of JAMB’s examinations is central to the controversy.

Obi, in a statement shared via his 𝕏 account on Sunday, criticized JAMB for allegedly making candidates travel during dangerous hours to reach far-off exam centers. He cited reports of students as young as 15 traveling across unfamiliar regions in the dark, risking accidents, disappearance, or worse.

“Setting exams for vulnerable teenagers as early as 6:00 AM while transporting them across far-flung locations is reckless,” Obi stated, linking the current arrangement to systemic failures in Nigeria’s educational infrastructure.

He further lamented Nigeria’s low university-to-population ratio compared to countries like Indonesia, arguing that Nigeria’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of 12% reflects severe underinvestment in education. Citing Indonesia’s GER of over 45% and more than 4,000 tertiary institutions for its 280 million population, Obi emphasized the need for aggressive expansion of Nigeria’s educational facilities to match its growing youth demographic.

“Our young generation should not be endangered because they desire education. We must do better as a nation,” Obi stressed, calling for reforms that prioritize safety, accessibility, and equitable development.

JAMB Responds: “Exams Start at 8AM, Not 6AM”

In a swift rebuttal posted on its official 𝕏 account, JAMB clarified that its examinations are scheduled to commence at 8:00 AM, not 6:00 AM as alleged by Obi.

“Your Excellency, I must assert that our examination is scheduled to commence at 8:00am, not 6:00am,” JAMB stated. “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 emphasized that early arrival at examination centers is necessary for proper verification, biometric clearance, and to prevent last-minute chaos that could disrupt the exam process. The agency insisted that these measures are crucial for ensuring the integrity and smooth conduct of the exams.

The board further highlighted that it has taken significant steps over the years to decentralize exam centers, reduce travel distances, and improve candidate safety.

Broader Issues of Education Infrastructure Persist

While JAMB’s clarification addresses the immediate concerns about exam start times, Peter Obi’s broader criticism draws attention to larger systemic issues—chief among them, the insufficient number of universities and tertiary institutions to meet Nigeria’s surging demand for education.

Obi’s comparison with Indonesia highlights the dire state of Nigeria’s higher education sector. With only about 200 universities for over 230 million citizens, competition for limited spaces has reached crisis levels, contributing to logistical challenges like overcrowded exam centers and lengthy travel for candidates.

Education advocates argue that without significant investment in building more universities, improving road infrastructure, and enhancing security nationwide, issues such as long-distance travel for exams and related risks will continue to plague the system.

Obi’s intervention has reignited discussions on the urgent need for Nigeria to prioritize educational expansion as a cornerstone of its development agenda, particularly in a country where 70% of the population is under the age of 30.

The clash between Peter Obi and JAMB highlights both immediate concerns over the logistics of public examinations and the deeper, more structural problems within Nigeria’s education sector. While JAMB has clarified that exams start at 8:00 AM, the former presidential candidate’s broader call for systemic reform continues to resonate.

As Nigeria grapples with increasing demands for access to quality education, the conversation around safe scheduling, sufficient infrastructure, and youth welfare remains more critical than ever. Policymakers and stakeholders will need to engage seriously with these issues if they are to secure a better future for Nigeria’s next generation.