Commissioner Decries Poor Infrastructure At JAMB’s CBT Centres

The Akwa Ibom State commissioner for Education, Prof Ubong Essien Umoh, has decried the poor state of some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), noting that many of the centres were not conducive for the exercise.

The discoveries, LEADERSHIP Sunday learnt, were made by the delegation led by the commissioner while undertaking an on-the-spot assessment of selected Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) CBT centres within the Uyo metropolis.

During the visit, the commissioner monitored the biometric verification process and the overall conduct of the examinations.

Though he commended the board for some noticeable technological improvements and expressed satisfaction with the level of orderliness observed at one of the centres, the commissioner frowned at some ill-fated centres devoid of basic facilities to aid the candidates.

He expressed strong displeasure over the poor state of facilities, describing the environment as “unconducive for candidates.”

Prof Umoh noted some of the issues bedeviling some centres to include inadequate space, poor ventilation, substandard seating arrangements, and damaged computer monitors.

He, therefore, of the commitment of the Umo Eno-led administration to provida a conducive environment for academic excellence, pointing out that “the youth centres proposed across the 31 local government areas are expected, in the future, to serve as standard CBT centres for examinations such as the UTME.”

The commissioner explained that the monitoring exercise was necessary “to identify and promptly address any technical or administrative challenges that could hinder students from performing optimally in national examinations,” and encouraged candidates to “remain calm and focused,” while wishing them success in their examinations.