JAMB Responds to Peter Obi: “UTME Starts at 8:00AM, Not 6:00AM” — Clarifies Early Clearance Process

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially responded to concerns raised by Peter Obi over the safety and welfare of students writing the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

In a statement posted through its official X handle (@JAMBHQ), JAMB clarified that:

• The actual examination begins at 8:00AM, not 6:00AM as earlier feared.
• Verification and clearance processes for candidates start as early as 6:30AM, to allow enough time for proper checks and seating arrangements.

“Your Excellency, I must assert that our examination is scheduled to commence at 8:00am, not 6:00am. While verification and other clearance processes begin at 6:30am, it is imperative that candidates are afforded adequate time to settle in before the exam begins,” JAMB stated.

Why Early Arrival Is Necessary

JAMB further explained that:

• Early arrival is essential to prevent last-minute rush and confusion.
• Nigeria’s culture of late arrival at important events influenced the decision to begin preliminary processes early.
• Allowing candidates time to complete biometric verification, identification, and seating arrangements ensures that everyone is properly settled before the exam proper.

“Given the tendencies often observed among Nigerians to arrive late when a start time is set without space for eventuality, this structured timeline is essential to ensure that all candidates are properly prepared and can perform to the best of their abilities,” JAMB added.

Addressing Public Concerns

JAMB’s clarification comes after Peter Obi raised serious concerns about candidates, many as young as 15–17 years old, being forced to travel in unsafe conditions early in the morning for their exams.
Obi also linked the issue to Nigeria’s broader education infrastructure challenges.

While acknowledging the importance of student safety, JAMB emphasized that the examination itself is never scheduled before 8:00AM, and that the early reporting is strictly to ensure orderliness and avoid systemic delays.

Given the tendencies often observed among Nigerians to arrive late when a start time is set without space for eventuality, this structured timeline is essential to ensure that all candidates are properly prepared and can perform to the best of their abilities.

— JAMB (@JAMBHQ) April 27, 2025

Final Words

With this clarification, JAMB aims to reassure candidates, parents, and the public that no student is required to write the exam in unsafe hours.
The focus remains on maintaining a smooth, organized, and credible examination process, while taking necessary steps to manage Nigeria’s realities around time management and logistics.

Candidates are still advised to arrive early, stay safe, and focus on their performance without fear of unreasonable scheduling.

JAMB remains committed to ensuring fairness, transparency, and the well-being of all candidates during the ongoing 2025 UTME.