The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially slated Saturday, June 28, 2025, for a mop-up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) involving 96,838 candidates. This supplementary exercise is intended to accommodate candidates who missed earlier opportunities or encountered biometric verification issues during the main examinations.
According to a statement issued by JAMB's Public Communications Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the mop-up is aimed at ensuring no eligible candidate is left behind in the 2025 admission cycle. Candidates are expected to begin printing their examination notification slips from Monday, June 23, 2025.
The board noted that this exercise is limited to the 2025 UTME cycle, and the rescheduled examination will take place in 183 designated centres across the country.
Who Qualifies for the Mop-Up Exam?
JAMB clarified that the upcoming mop-up UTME is being organized for three categories of candidates:
- Spillover Candidates: A total of 5,096 candidates who could not participate in the earlier rounds due to technical or verification issues.
- Biometric Verification Failures: Candidates who were unable to complete biometric verification during their scheduled examinations.
- Absentees: A significantly larger group of 91,742 candidates who were absent during either the main UTME or the earlier rescheduled examinations.
JAMB emphasized that this is a one-time opportunity, and only qualified candidates will be accommodated.
Over 100 CBT Centres Delisted for Infractions
As part of efforts to uphold examination integrity, the board announced that 113 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres have been either suspended or delisted due to infractions. These centres were found to have violated examination protocols during the mock or main UTME, with some currently under investigation for examination malpractice.
The delisted centres were involved in a range of misconducts, including technical breaches, identity theft, and collusion with impersonators. JAMB stated that such actions undermine the integrity of the entire examination process and will not be tolerated.
Security Agencies Praised as Investigations Yield Arrests
JAMB extended its appreciation to national security agencies—including the State Security Service (SSS), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)—for their proactive roles in exposing widespread examination fraud.
These investigations have already led to the arrest and prosecution of dozens of culprits, including:
- Professional exam impersonators
- Complicit JAMB officials
- Operators of tutorial centres and school proprietors
Some towns found to be hotspots for malpractice have been barred from hosting mop-up exams. Affected candidates will be reassigned to nearby examination towns to ensure continuity in the process.
Crackdown on Impersonation and Breach of Matriculation Oath
The mop-up examination, JAMB noted, presents an opportunity to further identify and apprehend impersonators, particularly undergraduates who write UTME for others. The board is working closely with universities and other tertiary institutions to ensure such students face consequences.
Institutions have been notified of students involved in impersonation, with JAMB urging them to enforce disciplinary actions, including withdrawal of admission. Offenders will also face charges under the Examination Malpractice Act of 1999, which prescribes penalties—even for underage offenders and parents who enable such acts.
Tightened Security and Early Arrival Advisory
To reinforce the integrity of the process, JAMB is deploying special squads of invigilators and security personnel to monitor the mop-up exam. This is part of a broader initiative led by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, aimed at eradicating examination malpractices.
Candidates scheduled for the 8:00 a.m. session are strongly advised to arrive at least one to one-and-a-half hours early to allow time for verification and screening procedures.
Eligible candidates are expected to print their examination notification slips from Monday, June 23, 2025, via the official JAMB portal.
This mop-up exercise underscores JAMB's commitment to fairness, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process, while sending a strong message to those involved in unethical practices.