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Abuja, 25 May 2025 – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) resit results, following an unfortunate incident that disrupted the initial examination at several centres. This development comes in the wake of public concerns regarding JAMB’s sincerity, particularly as the initial errors predominantly affected candidates of South-East origin, prompting accusations of bias. The resit was conducted to ensure fairness for impacted candidates, but it has also exposed widespread malpractices involving candidates, school proprietors, and Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.

Following the resit examination, JAMB convened a meeting of its Chief External Examiners (CEEs) from across the federation to review the results. The meeting, attended by key stakeholders, produced several resolutions to address irregularities and restore confidence in the examination process:
A sub-committee, chaired by Prof. Olufemi Peters, Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University and CEE for the Federal Capital Territory, was established to verify the accuracy of the resit results.
Prof. Boniface Nworgu, a renowned psychometrics expert, was invited to analyse and endorse the results prior to their release.
Results of under-aged candidates, previously withheld, were released as a conciliatory measure, though these candidates remain ineligible for admission due to signed undertakings acknowledging their ineligibility.
Candidates found engaging in illicit activities, such as soliciting assistance via WhatsApp groups, were granted a one-time waiver. JAMB cautioned candidates against joining such groups in the future.
Candidates absent from the resit, as well as those who missed the initial UTME, were offered a chance to participate in the annual mop-up examination.
CBT centres implicated in registration and examination malpractices face blacklisting, with their owners subject to prosecution. Individuals involved in altering candidates’ pictures and biometrics will also face legal action.
The meeting urged governments to regulate tutorial centres, which have been linked to fostering dishonest practices among candidates.
Despite challenges, the meeting reaffirmed the role of Computer-Based Testing in reducing malpractices and advancing Nigeria’s digital society.
JAMB was advised to engage a reputable management consultancy to enhance the accreditation of CBT centres and streamline registration processes.
The meeting condemned attempts to exploit the incident to fuel tribal or sectional divisions, particularly claims that the disruptions targeted South-East candidates. JAMB emphasised that the incident was neither caused by nor directed at any specific region.
The Registrar and JAMB management were praised for their competent handling of the situation.

Of the 336,845 candidates scheduled for the resit, 21,082 were absent. Performance trends remained consistent with previous years, with pass rates ranging from 11% in 2013 to 34% in 2016. JAMB debunked claims that high scorers from cancelled sessions were disadvantaged, noting that 99% of candidates in the affected sessions scored below 200, with only a handful reaching 217.

JAMB highlighted attempts by individuals to exploit the situation for personal gain. A notable case involved Mr. Olisa Gabriel Chukwuemeka, a first-year student at Adekunle Ajasin University, who falsely claimed on social media platform X to have scored 326 in the 2025 UTME. Investigations revealed he had doctored his 2024 UTME score of 203, and his actual 2025 score was 180. Following exposure, Mr. Olisa deactivated his X account.

The 2025 UTME uncovered sophisticated malpractices, including:
• Collusion by some CBT centre proprietors to hack local servers and remotely submit candidates’ responses.
• AI-enabled photo blending to facilitate impersonation, often involving current undergraduates.
• Registration fraud using combined fingerprints from multiple individuals.
• Unauthorised extension of Local Area Networks to “strong rooms.”
• Pairing candidates with professional mercenaries, many of whom are tertiary institution students.
Over 3,000 candidates have been identified as accomplices or beneficiaries of these fraudulent activities, with their results subject to withdrawal pending further investigation.
JAMB expressed gratitude to security agencies for their support in apprehending culprits and to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), and the National Examinations Council for accommodating the resit examination. The Board also commended the resilience of candidates and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a fair and transparent examination process.
Candidates affected by result withdrawals are being notified via text messages, profiles, and emails. JAMB clarified that its shortcode services (55019/66019) are subsidised to protect candidates’ data and prevent exploitation, dismissing claims that they generate revenue for the Board.
As investigations continue, JAMB urged Nigerians to focus on safeguarding the nation’s future by addressing the growing menace of digital fraud in examinations, while working to dispel regional mistrust and foster unity.