‘We waited for 8 hours’ — candidates groan as delays, logistic lapses mar mock UTME

On Thursday, April 10, 2025, thousands of candidates across Nigeria gathered at various computer-based test centres to participate in the mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

This practice test, holding weeks before the main exam on April 25, was designed to give candidates a taste of what to expect and to allow the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to fine-tune its processes.

However, for many, the day turned into a test of patience and resilience rather than just academic prowess.

Ishaq Oloyede, the JAMB registrar, had high hopes for the exercise.

During a monitoring visit in Abuja, Oloyede assured the 211,000 candidates who are participating in the examination that their results would be released on Friday.

Oloyede expressed confidence in the board’s readiness, stating, “We have learned from past mistakes and are committed to improving the process.”

Yet, the reality on the ground painted a different picture.

At several examination centres, particularly in the Ogba area of Lagos, students faced significant delays.

‘WE WAITED FOR EIGHT HOURS’

Kamimayo, one of the candidates, said he is glad to have been able to write his examination despite the eight-hour delay.

“We were supposed to finish before the afternoon, but we were delayed for eight hours because the questions for our centre were not uploaded. We arrived at 6:30 am, but didn’t start until around 3 pm,” he said.

Odunayo, another student at a different centre in Ogba, recounted her frustration, “We didn’t like the exam. The officers treated us poorly, pushing us around without any apologies. We waited from 11 am until 2 pm without any questions to answer. The staff seemed unorganised and uncaring.”

Adunni, however, was less affected by the delays.

“They said the questions weren’t uploaded on time, but it didn’t matter to me personally. I was ready to write the exam whenever it started. But I understand why others were worn out,” she said, showing empathy for her fellow candidates.

Candidates in the Ijesha area of Surulere faced similar delays, with frustrated students reportedly pleading to leave due to exhaustion.

Sources indicate several parents removed their children from examination centres amid the disruptions.

A video obtained by TheCable captured one parent’s account, where officials allegedly told families the exams would begin at 2 pm.

‘I ALMOST MISSED OUT ON MY OFFICIAL MEETING’ 

Parents, too, felt the strain of the day.

Laolu, a parent waiting at one of the centres, expressed his concern for the students’ mental state, “They are all tired and stressed. My daughter was excited this morning, but they’ve been delayed since 9 am without any explanation. This is a clear lack of organisation.”

Laolu also highlighted the broader impact of the delays, “I almost missed an important meeting because of the noise and congestion here. This is a systemic problem. It’s not the students or the parents who are at fault. JAMB needs to invest in better technology and infrastructure.”

Feyisara, another student, added to the chorus of complaints, “Some people finished by 9 am, but others in Centre 2 were still waiting because of technical issues. It’s frustrating.”

Amidst the chaos, Cornelius, a first-time examinee, found the computer aspect manageable but struggled with the content, “Some questions had abbreviations and signs that were confusing. I needed help to submit my exam, but apart from that, it was okay.”

Earlier, Oloyede warned candidates to desist from engaging in dubious means to pass their examination.

“It cannot work. We have also opened our own rogue website. And as of this morning, about 180 students have paid,” he said.

“So those students, because to attempt to cheat is already an infraction. So those who paid into that account, looking for questions, we are going to deal firmly with them. And many of the institutions, UTME is not a school-based examination.

“We register students individually. And that is why we tell the students, do not give (out) your registration number. Do not register by proxy.

“Do not give your registration number to anybody. Because some of these schools want to be able to brag that, oh, my 10 students from my school scored 280. There was a state where even the governor of a state was misinformed, and they were celebrating nothing. So this type of thing that people want to cut corners, we are abreast of all this. And we are doing everything possible (to stop it).

“We have about 180 of them. And we are going to deal with them firmly. We are going to cancel their results, both UTME and DE.”

He advised candidates to steer clear of fraudulent websites and individuals claiming to offer assistance during the examination.

“Some of them are paying N30,000 for something that will never work. And to some, when I look at those who have paid to us this money, I smile,” he added.

Earlier, JAMB said it disbursed N397,030,900 in transport allowances to 1,909 officials involved in conducting the 2025 mock UTME.

In 2023, some candidates also shared their frustration during their UTME.

Their experience included technical glitches and hours-long delays.