The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has responded to Peter Obi’s accusation that the exam body forced students to travel in the dark to sit for their exams.
In a statement shared on his verified X account on Sunday, April 27, Obi criticized JAMB for requiring students to arrive at exam centers as early as 6:30 am, despite widespread insecurity. He described the situation as “reckless,” adding that some students were reported missing, while others were involved in accidents or subjected to unnecessary trauma.
Obi wrote, “Teenagers, mostly 15–17 years old, were forced to travel in the dark, across dangerous and unfamiliar locations, just to access their right to education and sit for JAMB examinations. Setting exams for vulnerable teenagers as early as 6:00 am is reckless. Reports are already emerging of accidents, missing students, and needless trauma. Who takes responsibility when a child disappears or is harmed while trying to get an education?”
He also criticized both the exam body and the government, calling the situation a reflection of deeper systemic failures.
In response, JAMB issued a brief counter-statement, rejecting Obi’s claim. The board clarified that no exams were scheduled to start at 6 am. According to JAMB, the 2025 UTME exams were set to begin at 8 am, with student verification and clearance processes starting at 6:30 am.
