Examinations into Nigerian universities took place over the last weekend amid controversy generated by the time set for the exams.
According to initial information gathered, the examination body had set the commencement of the Computer Based Test (CBT) at the various centres at 6.30am across the federation, a development that had drawn the ire of concerned parents and individuals. Among those who kicked against the time was the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 Elections, Mr Peter Obi.
He had lashed out at JAMB for endangering the lives of candidates by fixing the time of the examination too early at 6.30 am. In his X handle, Obi had regretted the development, noting that the examination body had put the lives of the candidates at risk, even as he noted that some of them had been involved in accidents while trying to report to the centres.
But JAMB authorities had fired back, pointing out that it was only verification processes that were to start by 6.30am while the main examination was to start by 8am. The time of 6.30am was to ensure a smooth commencement of the exam by 8am.
JAMB gave this clarification in a statement released on its website on X on Sunday, April 17, 2025. The Board spoke after Obi’s criticism of the time of 6.30am.
But despite the explanations by JAMB, we want to align with the concerns raised by Obi, given the security situation prevalent in the country today. This is more so when it is factored in that many candidates usually go to centres far from their places of abode.
For such students, how would they be expected to access those centres before 6.30am to go through the process of verification? Even those whose centres are within their places of abode, getting out before 6.30am in order to access the venues is in itself very dangerous, especially for those using public transport.
It is not as if the JAMB authorities do not know about the various crimes committed by some public transport operators against their passengers ranging from robbery to killing for ritual purposes.
It is therefore shocking that JAMB would be defending the time they set for the examination. In the years when things had not gotten as bad as they are today, verification never started before 9am. This enabled the candidates to have enough time to access the venues of their exams.
It is thus, disappointing that the JAMB officials are feigning ignorance of the dangers posed by the time they set for this year’s examinations. It is yet another sad reminder of the lack of empathy by the government at all levels and institutions in this country for their citizens.
We ask: if the children of the policy makers in this country were schooling in the country and not abroad, would they be acquiescing to some of these things? We already know what they answer is and it is regrettable.
Those behind the timing for the last JAMB Examinations should rather be tendering apologies to parents and candidates, rather than trying to justify their decision. We say enough of all this nonsense. The safety and well-being of citizens of this country, not least those of children, should never be toyed with.
