THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the release of results for the 2025 UTME resit examination, which was conducted for candidates affected by disruptions at some centres in the country.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Sunday and signed by the Public Communication Advisor of the board, Fabian Benjamin.
Following the resit examination, JAMB convened a meeting of its Chief External Examiners (CEEs) from across the country to deliberate on the outcome. During the session, several critical resolutions were made to address the irregularities and ensure fairness in the result release process.
A sub-committee led by Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University and CEE for the FCT, Olufemi Peters, was tasked with validating the results, while psychometrics expert Boniface Nworgu was invited to analyse and endorse them before public release.
According to the statement, JAMB also released the results of under-aged candidates whose performance fell below standard. However, the board reiterated that such candidates would not qualify for admission, in line with an earlier agreement they signed during registration.
Similarly, the results of candidates who were involved in soliciting assistance through platforms like WhatsApp were also released as a one-time waiver, with a stern warning against further misconduct.
Candidates who missed the resit exam were granted the chance to participate in the board’s mop-up examination. This gesture extends to those who were absent during the main UTME.
Meanwhile, JAMB condemned the involvement of some CBT centres in exam registration infractions and announced the blacklisting of implicated centres and prosecution of their owners. It was also revealed that some CBT operators altered candidates’ biometrics and photographs during registration.
The board raised concerns over the growing influence of tutorial centres in aiding malpractice, calling for regulatory action by governments at all levels to monitor and license such establishments. While CBT remains the preferred method for curbing exam fraud, JAMB noted areas for improvement and suggested that management consultants be engaged to enhance accreditation and registration processes.
The board dismissed tribal and sectional narratives being spread in relation to the resit examination, warning that such sentiments could fuel division within society and the JAMB workforce. It also appreciated the Registrar and management for their handling of the situation.
A total of 336,845 candidates were scheduled for the resit, out of which 21,082 were absent. The performance trends remained within historical ranges seen over the past twelve years. JAMB also debunked claims of high scores in cancelled sessions, stating that only a few candidates scored above 217 and that 99 percent scored below 200.
The board cited the case of Olisa Gabriel Chukwuemeka, a Public Health student at Adekunle Ajasin University, who falsely claimed on social media to have scored 326 in the 2025 UTME. Investigations revealed that he doctored his 2024 UTME score of 203 and later deactivated his social media account when confronted with evidence.
JAMB clarified that only candidates found guilty of infractions or those scheduled for mop-up exams are yet to receive results. Some previously released results are being withdrawn based on new discoveries by security agencies. Affected candidates will be notified directly through SMS, email, and their JAMB profiles.
The board also addressed public misconceptions about charges on its SMS shortcode services, emphasizing that the service is subsidised and not a revenue source. It is aimed at protecting candidates’ data and shielding them from cybercafé extortion.
More troubling, however, is the scale of digital fraud uncovered during the examination. Security agencies revealed sophisticated schemes by some CBT centres and school owners, including network hacking to remotely submit candidates’ answers, AI-enabled impersonation, combined fingerprint registration, and the use of remote “strong rooms” to control examination processes. Candidates were also paired with mercenaries who registered to gain access to exam halls. Over 3,000 candidates have so far been identified as either perpetrators or beneficiaries of these schemes.
Background
The decision to reschedule the exam followed widespread protests from candidates and parents after the release of the 2025 UTME results.
According to JAMB, 78.5 per cent of candidates scored below 200, a commonly used benchmark for admission into competitive federal university programmes in Nigeria.
Out of the 1,955,069 registered candidates, 1,534,654 scored below 200, while 39,834 results were withheld for reasons ranging from examination malpractice to technical faults.
During the press briefing, Oloyede apologised for the trauma caused, admitting to “one or two errors” during the administration of the exams.
“I apologise for the trauma caused the candidates,” Oloyede was quoted to have said.
“What should have been a moment of joy has changed due to one or two errors,” he added.
He admitted that the mass failure resulted from a systemic error that affected the grading process.
“So, I appeal to the candidates and those affected by the error of our system to accept this explanation as the truth of the matter without embellishment, Please. I apologise and take full responsibility, not just in words,” he was quoted to have said.
Nurudeen Akewushola is an investigative reporter and fact-checker with The ICIR. He believes courageous in-depth investigative reporting is the key to social justice, accountability and good governance in society. You can reach him via nyahaya@icirnigeria.org and @NurudeenAkewus1 on Twitter.