Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has called on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to adopt a more humane and transparent approach in its operations to ease the burden on Nigerian students.
Obi made the appeal on Thursday via a post on his social media page, following a personal encounter with students outside the JAMB office in Amawbia, Anambra state.
He said he was disturbed by the large crowd he saw, many students clinging to the fence in an attempt to access the office.
His words: “When I stopped to speak with them, they explained that they were there to make changes to their course or institution choices.
“I found this surprising, as such services are ordinarily processed at JAMB-designated CBT centres.
“When I inquired why they weren’t using those centres, their response was disheartening: most of the CBT centres had stopped offering the service, leaving them with few or no alternatives.”
Obi said further inquiry revealed that 17 out of 28 JAMB-approved CBT centres in Anambra had been blacklisted, with many of the operators unaware of the specific reasons behind the decision.
“The explanation given was the vague phrase: ‘under investigation’,” he said.
He lamented that the blacklisting had forced students to travel long distances multiple times, often in vain, just to process changes that should be simple.
He added that the cost of such changes, usually about ₦1,500, had now surged to as much as ₦15,000 at the JAMB office, allegedly due to unofficial fees.
He stated: “These young Nigerians—already grappling with immense pressure—now face even greater financial, physical, and emotional strain.
“The challenges they confront have prevented many from transferring to their preferred institutions, placing their academic futures at serious risk.
“To make matters worse, several universities have already begun their post-UTME screening, leaving these students further disadvantaged and uncertain about their prospects.”
Obi noted that these difficulties come at a time when Nigerians are facing widespread hardship, rising insecurity, and soaring youth unemployment.
He acknowledged that JAMB may have valid reasons for sanctioning some CBT centres, but urged the board to pursue a more transparent and student-focused approach.
He further queried: “Could a more humane and transparent approach not have been adopted?
“Is it not possible to allow these centres to continue offering essential services under close monitoring, pending the outcome of investigations?”
Obi concluded by urging JAMB to prioritise the welfare of students and avoid bureaucratic obstacles that could derail their academic aspirations.
“Education remains the hope of our nation. We must not allow bureaucratic bottlenecks and opacity to derail the dreams of our young people,” he said.