UTME 2026: FCT CBT centre records hitch-free start

The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination got off to a smooth start at the Rosa Mystica Academy CBT centre in Byazhin, Kubwa, within the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, as candidates sat the first session of this year’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board test on Thursday.

Biometric verification officer Peter Idu told journalists that 236 of the 250 candidates scheduled for the 8:30 a.m. session turned up and were successfully screened without any technical hitches.

“The biometric session for this morning’s exam went well. There was no issue,” Idu said.

Centre supervisor Adeosun Olawola confirmed that the exercise commenced exactly on schedule, with candidate checks beginning as early as 6:30 a.m.

“Everything is in order. The candidates also tried to arrive on time.

“The exam started at 8:30 a.m. on the dot, which is the stipulated time to commence the exam,” he said.

Olawola attributed the absence of misconduct to early sensitisation and strict entry screening, noting that candidates voluntarily surrendered all prohibited devices before gaining access to the hall.

He also confirmed that all technical systems, including computers and cooling equipment, were in perfect working condition — the result of a comprehensive trial run conducted at the centre the previous day, which included a briefing of all examination officials.

“The cooling system, computers, and all other equipment are functioning properly. We were here yesterday for a dummy test and stayed until evening to put everything in order,” Olawola said.

The 2026 UTME, which runs from April 16 to April 22 across 966 accredited centres nationwide, is expected to see over 2.2 million candidates participate.

JAMB has deployed biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems across centres to deter malpractice and ensure the integrity of the process.