2026 UTME: Plateau Govt Assures Candidates Of Adequate Security

Ahead of the 2026 UTME, Plateau State Government has assured parents and candidates of adequate security arrangements for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, amid concerns over recent security challenges in parts of the state.

The state government also announced new arrival times for candidates and a reduction in the number of examination sessions.

Commissioner for education, Dr. Kachollom Pyam Gang, gave the assurance on Wednesday during a press briefing in Jos.

She disclosed that the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Prof. Ishaq O. Oloyede, recently visited the state alongside heads of security agencies, religious leaders and other stakeholders to assess preparedness and reassure residents on the safety of candidates.

According to her, following the stakeholders’ engagement, JAMB adjusted candidate arrival times strictly for biometric verification.

She said The sessions are scheduled as follows,first session 7:00 a.m.; second session — 9:00 a.m.; and third session — 11:00 a.m.

Gang stressed that no candidate would be allowed to sit for the examination without successful biometric verification, advising candidates to locate their centres ahead of time to avoid last-minute challenges.

She added that the examination would now be conducted in three sessions instead of the earlier planned four, noting that candidates previously slated for the fourth session would be rescheduled and duly informed by JAMB.

The commissioner further disclosed that the state government, in collaboration with security agencies, had put measures in place to secure all routes leading to examination centres as well as the centres themselves.

She urged operators of Computer-Based Test, CBT, centres to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities promptly.

Addressing parents, Gang appealed for calm, saying adequate arrangements had been made to ensure the safety of candidates.

“We are calling on all parents to allow their children to go to their UTME centres as adequate security has been put in place,” she said.

The assurance follows concerns raised by parents and candidates over postings to some communities that have witnessed recent attacks, including Jos North, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Bassa local government areas.