Intending candidates for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Abule Egba, Lagos State, faced severe delays on Monday, with some spending up to six hours attempting to register without success. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which conducts the UTME, had initially scheduled registration to start on January 31, but later postponed it to February 5, with the deadline set for March 5.

Many candidates, including Success Enonfu and her twin sister, were frustrated by the slow registration process at Perfect Angel Computer-Based Testing (CBT) Centre in Abule Egba. “We have been here since morning, filled the forms, and waited for our turn, but the system has been very sluggish. At the end, we were asked to return tomorrow,” Success lamented. Similarly, Favour Adenle, who visited the centre on Friday without knowing the registration had been postponed, expressed disappointment, calling for better measures to ensure a seamless process.

Mr. Emmanuel Owobu, a two-time UTME candidate, admitted he had lost hope of gaining university admission after previous unsuccessful attempts but was compelled by his parents to try again. “I didn’t want to try again, but my parents insisted. Now, I’ve been sitting here for hours without any progress,” he said. The Manager of the CBT centre, Mr. Olaoluwa Adefamoye, attributed the delays to JAMB’s registration system only accepting iPhone scanners, preventing other available devices from being used for scanning. He urged JAMB to allow multiple scanner options to speed up the process.

JAMB has approved 870 CBT centres nationwide for the 2025 UTME, an increase from 747 centres in 2024. The Mock UTME is scheduled for February 23, while the main UTME begins on March 8. Registration fees remain at ₦7,200, with an additional ₦1,000 for candidates opting for the mock exam. Meanwhile, JAMB has introduced a UTME Mock Trial for candidates below 16 years, allowing them to experience the CBT process before taking the main UTME in the future.