2026 UTME Chaos: Nationwide Glitch Crashes JAMB Mock, Sparks Massive Outrage

Thousands of candidates registered for the 2026 mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board were left stranded on Saturday after a widespread technical glitch disrupted the exercise across multiple centres. According to Ireporter Online, candidates who arrived at their designated Computer-Based Test centres as early as 6 a.m. were still unable to commence the examination hours later, with many waiting until early afternoon without success, sparking frustration among parents and guardians.

At Quiblaminds Comprehensive CBT Centre located in Ahmadiyyah, Abule Egba, Lagos, a guardian, Shile Giwa, disclosed that candidates were eventually asked to leave after prolonged delays. He noted that one candidate managed to attempt only four questions before the system crashed and failed to recover, forcing many to abandon the exercise after several hours of waiting.

Earlier in the week, the examination body had cautioned that candidates who indicated interest in the mock test but failed to participate could face sanctions. However, Saturday’s disruption has triggered criticism, with stakeholders questioning the fairness of penalising candidates for circumstances beyond their control.

A parent, Shola Oluwadare, recounted travelling across Lagos with his son for the examination, incurring additional costs, only for the exercise not to hold. He described the situation as distressing, noting that candidates spent several hours at the centre without writing the exam.

Similarly, Kareem Kasali, who assisted at a centre on Lagos Island, described the incident as embarrassing, stating that repeated efforts to stabilise the server proved unsuccessful, forcing candidates to be sent home later in the day.

Reactions also trailed the incident on social media, with several parents expressing outrage. Dayo Akinsanya criticised what he described as recurring administrative lapses, while Lookman Oniyaomebi called for collective action, describing the situation as unacceptable.

In a contrasting view, Babatola Adeyemi urged restraint, acknowledging the difficulties faced by candidates while expressing confidence that the issue would be addressed. He also extended sympathy to the affected candidates.

As of the time of filing this report, the examination body had yet to release an official statement regarding the disruption or provide clarity on possible rescheduling for the affected candidates.