Many Nigerians have complained about the numerous shortfalls noticed during the commencement of the Joint Admissions Matriculation(JAMB)’s 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Friday, April 19.
The concerned Nigerians expressed dismay that some of the candidates could not get their registration numbers, and thump prints verified, while some others had problems with the 7am arrival time considering the age of most of applicants and the rampaging insecurity in the country.
EroBaba with X handle @iam_eronsb complained that the sister and other candidates could not UTME because the server at their centre kept telling them ‘registration number does not exist’.
“My sister and many other candidates could not write their exams today. The server kept telling her “registration number does not exist” The reg number has been verified and it’s correct. Will she be rescheduled,” EroBaba asked.
Oluwadare Bamidele, commenting on this called on JAMB to look into plights of many candidates who could not write the UTME for several reasons.
“Wisdom house CBT centre at Ogba, Lagos, some candidates were not allowed to sit for their 7:00am examination because they came late due to travel distance,” he stated.
Another concerned citizen queried why candidates whose fingers could not be captured will not be allowed a rescheduled sitting.
He reason why the fingers that did not have problem at NIMC office during registration and was successfully captured during JAMB registration would suddenly develop issue during examination?
Confidence Obiina, a mother said considering the age of most candidates involved in UTME, starting the examination too early would expose them to dangers bearing in mind that some would have leave their homes as early 4am to meet up with the 7am arrival time.
Segun@ShegunGraphics12 appealed to the board to consider some of candidates that arrived late at their centres because according to him “these things is not so much on a child’s fault.”
“Considering the distance and leaving home maybe 3 or 4 am and also risking danger in a time security isn’t very active. Please jamb help look into this at please allow a reschedule,” he adds.
Honestly, Nigerians need to rise up to this tyrant posture of JAMB, with the state of insecurity in the country, government institution is behaving this way is sad, exposing these children to danger is uncalled-for, it high time they look deeply into it.
However, responding to some of the complaints, JAMB blamed the candidates of absorbing abrasive substances which according them is responsible for distorting the whorls of their fingers.
“Candidates have been admonished to desist from the application of abrasive substances capable of distorting the whorls of their fingers prior the examination.” @JAMBHQ replied.
Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar and chief executive officer at JAMB has however assured that the board would reschedule examination for all those found to have encountered problem as a result of technical hitches.
Oloyede, speaking after a monitoring exercise of the examination on Friday said so far the UTME had been going on smoothly but for one centre that encountered issues.
“We appeal to the public to understand this, some centres will fail. I have heard of only one centre that has failed.
“It is important to note that when a session fails because of a problem, you cannot bring those candidates to do session two, they will have to step aside, and the headquarters will have to be contacted,” he said.
Oloyede explained that the earliest time the candidates can be scheduled will be after 4:30p.m, so that those slated for sections two and three can write.
“These candidates can now write for session four, and in some cases, they can even be scheduled for the following day,” he noted.
