JAMB Clarifies: UTME Candidates Can Take Exams in Any State Across Nigeria Candidates are not restricted by state of registration, says exam body.

Written by Rita Okafor, Journalist for SpringNewsNG Media Limited | April 16, 2025

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has confirmed that candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) can sit for their exams in any part of Nigeria, regardless of the state where they registered.

This clarification follows the circulation of a misleading report falsely claiming that UTME candidates must write their exams in the state where they completed their registration.

In a statement released on Wednesday, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, debunked the report, urging the public to ignore the misinformation.

“I recently clarified in an interview with a NAN correspondent that candidates are not bound to sit for the exam in the state where they registered,” Benjamin stated. “They can register anywhere and choose any town across the country as their preferred exam location.”

He added that JAMB’s Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers are arranged by towns for the convenience of candidates. Once a candidate selects a town, they are assigned to a test center within that location.

“For example, if Garki is selected as the exam town, the candidate must take the test there and will not be posted to a different location, as some reports have wrongly claimed,” he explained.

Benjamin further noted that the system allows a candidate to register in Lagos and choose to sit for the UTME in Sokoto or any other part of the country.

“This level of flexibility is intentional,” he said. “It’s designed to accommodate candidate preferences and reduce stress. We urge the public to disregard the inaccurate NAN report in its entirety.”

JAMB reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all candidates receive fair and accessible opportunities to participate in the UTME nationwide.