JAMB has acknowledged that Saturday's 2026 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination was marred by technical failures at multiple centres across the country, and has promised a comprehensive review that will include the delisting of centres that fell below required standards.

In a bulletin released on Monday, JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin said the exercise, while largely successful, exposed gaps that the board intends to address before the main UTME opens on 16 April 2026. "While the exercise was largely successful, a few centres experienced technical failures. This underscores the importance of the mock examination, which allows candidates to familiarise themselves with the Computer Based Test environment and enables the Board to assess its level of preparedness," the statement said.

The acknowledgement came after widespread reports of server failures, power outages and delayed start times that left thousands of candidates stranded at examination centres on Saturday. Some arrived as early as 6 a.m. and waited for hours before the examination could begin. At Quiblaminds Comprehensive CBT Centre in Abule Egba, Lagos, one candidate managed only four questions before the server crashed, forcing the centre to send students home around 3 p.m. The candidate described the experience as "stressful and frustrating."

On social media, reactions were sharp. Users described the situation as "intolerable" and a "mockery of a mock exam," with many calling for accountability and questioning whether the board would be adequately prepared for the main sitting.

JAMB said the 2026 mock featured two sessions, a primary examination and a second session for additional practice, and confirmed that centres which failed to function adequately would be delisted. "The Board will undertake a comprehensive review to evaluate its effectiveness, address identified gaps, and take necessary action, including the delisting of centres that failed to meet the required standards," the bulletin stated.

For the hundreds of thousands of candidates sitting the main UTME from 16 April, JAMB's promise of corrective action before that date is the most important takeaway from Monday's statement. The mock exists precisely to catch problems before they occur in the examination that matters. Whether the board acts decisively on what Saturday revealed will determine whether April runs differently.