All ad hoc officials deployed across examination centres nationwide have been further briefed on approved screening procedures after a staff member at Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre in Ibadan directed Muslim female candidates to remove their hijab before entering the examination hall during the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board confirmed that its monitoring system detected the incident during the first session of the examination held on Thursday, April 16, and that it intervened immediately by contacting the official involved.

JAMB's Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, stated in a release posted on X that the board directed that no candidate wearing a hijab should be asked to remove or adjust it.

"The Board wishes to state clearly that this act was neither perpetrated by the centre nor part of its official protocol," the statement noted. "It was the action of an overzealous ad hoc staff member who failed to adhere to the Board's established guidelines regarding candidates' religious attire."

Benjamin stressed that the incident did not reflect the board's policies, adding that JAMB respects the religious beliefs and customs of all Nigerians. The board confirmed that the matter had been addressed promptly.

Candidates across the country received assurances from the board that their right to religious expression, including dressing in line with their faith, remains protected.

"We assure all candidates, regardless of faith, that their rights to religious expression, including dressing, remain a cornerstone of our policy," the statement added.

The UTME is the annual entrance examination for admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria, with thousands of candidates currently sitting the examination nationwide.