JAMB Moves 2027 UTME First-Session Arrival Time to 7:30am Over Safety Concerns
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has adjusted the time for candidates to arrive for the first session of the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from 6:30am to 7:30am, due to safety and logistical issues.
The revised schedule is that candidates appearing for the first session should reach their designated Computer Based Test (CBT) centres by 7:30am and the examination will commence at 8:30am and conclude at 10:30am.
JAMB said the move was made because of the worry of candidates travelling to examination centres at very early hours in the morning, in its weekly bulletin issued in Abuja on Wednesday, September 16.
The board said the old reporting time of 6:30am may mean some candidates, particularly those from far away, will need to get up before dawn to get to work.
The change may also help to minimise the time spent travelling in the early morning, when visibility is poor and fewer transport and other support services are available, from a child safeguarding point of view.
The decision came after discussions at the 2026 Management and Information Technology Retreat of JAMB in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, from September 6 to 11.
The retreat discussed issues raised by the public regarding the early reporting requirement.
JAMB said the later time is to enhance the safety and convenience of the candidates and to possibly minimize absenteeism associated with the inability of candidates to reach examination centres before dawn.
Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to sit the 2027 UTME to gain admission into tertiary institutions.
