The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a stern warning to Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre operators nationwide, declaring that only facilities meeting its rigorous operational and technical standards will be accredited to host the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
​The announcement, released on Thursday evening, November 5, 2026, from the JAMB National Headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, underscores the Board’s ongoing drive to eliminate examination malpractice, technical disruptions, and extortion during the annual tertiary admissions exercise.
Speaking on behalf of the examination body, JAMB Spokesperson Dr. Fabian Benjamin emphasized that accreditation will no longer be granted as a matter of routine, noting that candidates deserve a fair, seamless, and secure environment to sit the UTME regardless of their assigned examination venue.
​Under the updated 2027 accreditation framework, prospective and existing CBT centres must satisfy strict physical and technological conditions prior to undergoing physical inspection.
Facilities are required to feature a minimum of 250 functional desktop or laptop computers, alongside an additional ten percent backup capacity, all running Windows 10 or higher with 4GB RAM, dual-core processors, and high-speed local area network connectivity. JAMB reiterated that wireless connections remain strictly prohibited.
Furthermore, uninterrupted power supply must be guaranteed through a dedicated generating set ranging from 40kVA to 100kVA, complemented by uninterruptible power supply systems capable of sustaining operations for at least two hours. Security measures have also been heightened, requiring high-definition IP CCTV surveillance systems to cover all testing areas alongside perimeter fencing and dedicated holding spaces for candidates.
Centres situated in shared commercial or residential premises, such as shopping malls, markets, and cinema halls, face automatic disqualification.
​The Board has also outlined the official operational timeline leading up to the examination window. The initial process begins with centre expressions of interest and automated Autobot evaluations via the JAMB Centre Management System portal, which dictates eligibility for physical inspection visits.
National profile generation and e-PIN sales will commence on Monday, January 19, 2027, followed immediately by the official UTME registration period running from Monday, January 26, 2027, until Saturday, February 28, 2027.
Candidates participating in the optional Mock UTME will sit the test on Sunday, March 28, 2027, while the main national computer-based examination is scheduled to take place nationwide from April 16 to April 25, 2027.
JAMB cautioned applicants to conduct all registration activities exclusively through approved CBT centres, warning against reliance on unauthorised cybercafés or third-party agents.
