Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the difficulties faced by students in securing changes to their admission choices, following the blacklisting of several JAMB-approved CBT centres in Anambra State.
In a detailed statement shared via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi recounted a recent experience while passing through Amawbia, Anambra State, where he encountered a large crowd of students outside the JAMB office, with some perched precariously on the fence in a bid to gain access.
Troubled by the sight, he said he stopped to engage the students, who revealed they were there to amend their course or institution choices—a service ordinarily available at JAMB-designated CBT centres. However, many of these centres, they explained, had stopped offering the service.
Obi’s findings showed that out of 28 JAMB-approved CBT centres in Anambra State, 17 had been blacklisted. Shockingly, he noted, many of the affected centres were not informed of the specific reasons, only told they were “under investigation.”
The development, Obi said, has forced students to travel long distances, often from remote parts of the state, to the JAMB state office. Some, he added, had made as many as five fruitless trips before being attended to.
More worrisome, according to Obi, is the sharp rise in processing costs. A change that should ordinarily cost ₦1,500 at accredited centres now reportedly costs up to ₦15,000 at the JAMB office—often inflated by unofficial charges.
“These young Nigerians—already grappling with immense pressure—now face even greater financial, physical, and emotional strain,” Obi lamented, warning that the delays and costs have jeopardised the academic futures of many students, especially as universities commence post-UTME screenings.
Obi noted that while JAMB may have legitimate grounds for blacklisting certain centres, the current approach was neither humane nor transparent. He urged the examination body to adopt a more compassionate strategy, such as allowing affected centres to operate under close monitoring pending the conclusion of investigations. “Education remains the hope of our nation. We must not allow bureaucratic bottlenecks and opacity to derail the dreams of our young people,” he said, appealing to JAMB to prioritise student welfare in its operations
