The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has released the results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, confirming that nearly 40,000 results have been withheld over various infractions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, said a total of 39,834 candidates’ results are currently withheld, while 1,426 are still undergoing further checks.
Oloyede added that a total of 96 candidates were found to be involved in examination malpractice, a reduction from 123 cases recorded last year.
He said out of the over 1.9 million candidates that registered, 71,705 were absent, while 2,157 faced fingerprint-related issues suggesting possible irregularities during registration.
According to Oloyede, these biometric discrepancies indicate systemic vulnerabilities that the board is now addressing.
The registrar highlighted newer trends in exam misconduct, particularly identity and biometric fraud.
He said some candidates, in collusion with certain CBT centres, attempted to register using combined or substituted fingerprints.
As a result, he said 3,656 candidates linked to “extraneous fingerprints” have had their results suspended, and multiple centres implicated in these scams will face disciplinary action.
He identified some of the involved centres as Tigh Technologies Ltd and Sascon International School in Abuja, Wudil Computer Centre in Kano, and Penta M & Centre 2 in Sokoto State.
JAMB also discovered that 244 candidates were engaged in illicit “WhatsApp runs” with rogue groups that promised access to leaked questions. Their results have also been withheld.
He further disclosed that law enforcement is currently interrogating 80 individuals in connection with these malpractice cases, and most are expected to face legal prosecution.
Addressing the issue of underage candidates, Oloyede stated that 41,027 students below the minimum age of 16 registered for the exam.
He said only 467 met the “exceptional talent” benchmark, while one was disqualified for malpractice.
JAMB reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education, noting that 501 candidates with disabilities sat the UTME through the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group, although one was flagged for impersonation.
The board added that four CBT centres were delisted over poor technical performance during the exams.
These include locations in Kano, Zaria, Imo, and Ogun states. The board plans to release a comprehensive list of blacklisted centres involved in fraudulent activity.
Despite the challenges, Oloyede maintained that the 2025 UTME has been among the most credible and efficiently conducted exams in recent times.
