Obi storms Anambra JAMB office, detects sharp practices, warns that students risk missing admission

By Our Correspondent

Former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has raised the alarm that thousands of Nigerian students risk losing admission opportunities this year as delays and bottlenecks in Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) services worsen.

Obi, who made the call during an unscheduled visit to the JAMB office at Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area, said the crisis was particularly critical because several universities have already begun the processes for admission.

The former governor said he was troubled by the sight of a large crowd of frustrated students struggling to access basic services, particularly the processing of changes to their course or institution of choice.

He noted that such services are ordinarily handled by Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres accredited by JAMB.

However, according to Obi, out of 28 accredited CBT centres in Anambra State, 17 have been blacklisted — a move he said was done without public disclosure of specific reasons, except that the centres were “under investigation.”

“The consequences are far-reaching,” Obi said. “Students are now forced to travel long distances from rural communities, with some making up to five unsuccessful trips to the JAMB office. In these times of economic hardship, growing insecurity, and massive youth unemployment, we should not compound the challenges our young people already face.”

He also decried what he described as a sharp, often unofficial, increase in service costs.

According to him, a process that previously cost ₦1,500 is now being charged at up to ₦15,000 at the state office.

While acknowledging JAMB’s right to discipline errant centres, Obi urged the examination body to apply a more transparent and compassionate approach.

He recommended that blacklisted centres be allowed to resume operations under strict supervision while investigations continue.

“Education remains the hope of our nation,” Obi stressed. “Bureaucratic bottlenecks must not derail the aspirations of our youths.”