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Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for creating what he described as “unjust and avoidable” hardship for students in Anambra State following the blacklisting of several Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.
In a post on his X account on Friday, Obi said he was “troubled” by the sight of a large crowd of students gathered outside the JAMB office in Anambra during a recent visit, with some “perched precariously on the fence” as they waited to make changes to their course or institution choices.
“I found this surprising, as such services are ordinarily processed at JAMB-designated CBT centres,” Obi said, adding that most of the CBT centres had stopped offering the service, leaving them with few or no alternatives.
According to Obi, further checks revealed that of 28 JAMB-approved CBT centres in Anambra, 17 had been blacklisted, with many operators left in the dark about the exact reasons, told only that they were “under investigation.”
The development, he noted, has forced students to travel long distances to the state office, with some making several unsuccessful trips before receiving attention. He also decried what he called “a sharp increase” in service costs, saying a process that should cost ₦1,500 at accredited centres now costs up to ₦15,000 at the JAMB office, often inflated by “unofficial fees.”
“These young Nigerians already grappling with immense pressure now face even greater financial, physical, and emotional strain,” Obi warned. “Many are unable to transfer to their preferred institutions, and with universities already starting post-UTME screening, their academic futures are at serious risk.”
He questioned the opaque handling of the matter, urging JAMB to adopt “a more humane and transparent approach” by allowing the centres to operate under close monitoring while investigations continue.
