The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)
has raised an alarm over fraudulent messages being circulated to candidates who
registered for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
According to the board, these messages are not official and are attempts by
scammers to deceive unsuspecting candidates.
In a statement released on Wednesday, JAMB’s
spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, described the viral SMS as misleading and
part of a scheme designed to exploit candidates. He explained that the
fraudsters had manipulated JAMB’s official short code (55019) by combining it
with the UTME numerical tag "8863" to create a fake platform for
sending deceptive messages. These messages often claim there are issues with a
candidate’s details and instruct them to contact certain individuals for help.
“These messages are not from us,” Dr. Benjamin
clarified. “Security agencies are already investigating the issue and tracking
those behind the scam. Candidates should completely ignore such messages.”
He advised all UTME candidates and the public to
remain cautious, emphasizing that any message not from JAMB’s verified
platforms or that contains suspicious instructions should be treated as fake.
Record Registration Numbers for 2025 UTME
JAMB also shared updates on this year’s registration,
which ran from February 3 to March 8, 2025. A total of 2,030,627 candidates
registered for the examination — the highest number recorded in recent years.
This figure excludes those registered at foreign centers, pointing to a growing
interest in tertiary education among Nigeria’s youth.
This year’s registration surpasses the 2022 record of
1.8 million, with the board noting a steady 5–10% increase annually since 2020.
However, this growth also highlights the increasing demand placed on Nigeria’s
educational institutions.
Mock Exam Performance and Innovations
JAMB recently conducted its mock UTME, which was taken
by 126,181 candidates. Of these, 115,735 results have already been released,
while 10,446 are still being processed due to technical issues linked to newly
introduced exam features. The board assured candidates that these changes are
part of efforts to enhance the UTME experience.
“The mock test helps us test-run new ideas and gives
candidates a feel of what to expect in the real exam,” the board explained.
“It’s an important part of our strategy to improve the examination process and
reduce possible challenges.”
Strict Measures Against Exam Malpractice
As the main UTME draws closer (scheduled for April 25
to May 5, 2025), JAMB has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards
examination malpractice. It revealed that new technological measures have been
implemented to prevent cheating, although specific details remain confidential.
Insiders suggest these might include tighter biometric
checks, real-time monitoring at Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers, and closer
scrutiny of academic records linked with candidates' National Identification
Numbers (NINs).
“Candidates must stay away from any form of
malpractice,” JAMB warned, noting that its systems have already led to several
arrests of individuals attempting to use fake credentials.
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