The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that candidates are free to sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in any part of the country, regardless of where they registered.
This comes in response to a misleading media report suggesting that candidates are restricted to writing the exam only within their state of registration.
In a statement released on Wednesday, April 16, the Board’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, described the report as “inaccurate and misleading,” urging the public to disregard it.
“In a recent interview with a NAN reporter, I clarified that candidates are not restricted to taking the examination within their state of registration. They have the flexibility to register anywhere in the country and select any town nationwide from any registration point,” he said.
Dr Benjamin explained that Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres are organised by town for ease and convenience, allowing candidates to pick any preferred examination town across Nigeria. He emphasised that once a candidate selects an examination town, they must take the test in that specific location.
“For example, if a candidate selects Garki as their examination town, they must take the exam there and cannot be reassigned to another town, as is sometimes falsely claimed,” he stated.
He reiterated that the Board’s policy allows candidates full freedom to register in one state and take the examination in another. “A candidate may register in Lagos and choose to write the examination in Sokoto, or any other location they find convenient,” he said.
The Board urged parents, candidates, and the general public to disregard the erroneous report, reassuring all 2025 UTME candidates that the system is designed with their flexibility and convenience in mind.
“This flexibility is designed to accommodate candidates’ preferences and ensure they can choose a location that is convenient for them,” Dr Benjamin concluded.
