In an update published by **Channels TV**, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a slight shift in the arrival time for the first session of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Candidates are now expected to arrive at their various CBT centers by 7:00 am, a move from the previous 6:30 am requirement.
The board explained that the adjustment was made to ease the logistical burden on students traveling from far distances and to ensure that biometric verification systems are fully online before the first batch enters. JAMB also warned candidates against bringing prohibited items, including “smart” jewelry and certain types of calculators, into the exam halls.
**The Punch** noted the “JAMB adjusts arrival time for UTME first session,” while **Tribune** reported that “education stakeholders welcomed the 30-minute delay as a humane gesture for candidates.”
**Echotitbits take:** While a 30-minute shift seems minor, it significantly reduces the risk of accidents and security incidents for students moving in the early dawn hours. It also gives CBT center operators more time to troubleshoot the inevitable technical glitches.
Source: The Nation – https://thenationonlineng.net/full-list-jamb-adjusts-arrival-time-for-2026-utme-candidates/, and April 13, 2026
Photo credit: The Nation
