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Over 80% of the 98,232 candidates eligible for Saturday's nationwide mop-up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination did not show up.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) attributed this situation to heightened security measures aimed at preventing impersonation and exam cheating.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who oversaw the process at the Technology CBT Centre in NAF Valley Estate, Abuja, reported that the turnout was significantly low, with only around 12% of registered candidates participating nationwide.
Oloyede explained that mop-up exams are usually arranged for a few thousand candidates who have valid reasons, such as illness or verified technical difficulties, for missing the main UTME.
"This year, however, the vast number of mop-up candidates was driven by reports of widespread absences during the primary examination," he noted, emphasizing that it was crucial to grant everyone a second chance while utilizing intelligence from security agencies.
He acknowledged that the performance indicators across the country were disappointing, with some centers expecting 250 candidates per session recording fewer than 20 attendees.
Oloyede highlighted the existence of syndicates operating under the guise of tutorial centers, particularly private school owners engaged in exam malpractice.
Moreover, he revealed that some individuals attempted to deceive the system by falsely claiming to be albino to manipulate facial recognition processes.
"In previous years, we had fewer than 100 cases of declared albinos, but this year there were 1,787," he explained, indicating a significant discrepancy. Additional investigations led to the arrest of individuals falsely claiming to be albino.
The registrar stressed that those suspected of impersonation and who failed to take the exam would be held accountable. "They registered with their personal information and NINs," he stated, confirming that authorities were actively tracking them down. Furthermore, he warned that parents financing exam malpractice for their children would face investigations and potential prosecution.
Regarding the mop-up exam results, Oloyede mentioned they would likely be available on Saturday but might be delayed until Monday for thorough examination and to vet any fraudulent entries.
He also addressed issues related to Direct Entry (DE) admissions, revealing that 14 candidates were caught submitting forged certificates this year, and expressed concern about educational institutions facilitating such fraud.
He shared an alarming discovery of students without NCE qualifications being improperly awarded NCE certificates for Direct Entry registration.
Oloyede highlighted systemic issues regarding invalid admission and certification practices, indicating a comprehensive investigation would be necessary to address these challenges.
