In a development that directly affects candidates finalising their preparations for the 2026 UTME, JAMB has confirmed that more than 20 Computer Based Test centres have been delisted following the technical failures that disrupted the Mock UTME on 28 March, with the main examination now less than three weeks away.

JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin confirmed in a Tuesday statement that while the mock was conducted across 989 centres nationwide, those that experienced technical inadequacies have been formally removed from the approved list. "Over 20 CBT centres that experienced technical challenges have been delisted due to technical inadequacies," the statement read.

The disruptions on mock day were among the most widely reported of any recent JAMB exercise. Candidates arrived at centres before dawn, some as early as 6 a.m., only to encounter server failures, power outages and sessions that did not commence until hours later. At a centre in Abule Egba, Lagos, a candidate was able to attempt only four questions before the server crashed, and students were sent home in the afternoon. Reactions across social media from candidates, parents and education observers were uniformly critical, with many questioning whether the board would be sufficiently prepared for the main sitting.

For candidates whose centres have been affected, the immediate priority is straightforward. Visit the JAMB website and confirm whether your examination venue is still on the approved list. If your centre has been delisted and you have been reassigned, note your new venue name, location, date and session without delay. The consequences of arriving at the wrong centre on 16 April are severe and entirely avoidable.

It is worth noting that candidates sitting WAEC and NECO examinations this season face their own scheduling pressures, with WASSCE for school candidates running from April through June. Managing the logistics of multiple high stakes examinations in a compressed period requires advance planning, and confirming your UTME centre is one task that should not be left until the last week.