The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has stated that any candidate with biometric challenge will now have to come to its Headquarters in Abuja to resolve the issue as well as write the examination.

JAMB stated that it took the decision after it discovered that many candidates use issues of biometrics to concoct a reason to cheat.

Sale of forms or registration for candidates (UTME /Direct Entry), including those from foreign countries, begin from today till February 21.

Its spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in an interview in Abuja, said the decision would help curb cheating during its examinations.

He explained that candidates with biometric issues, who register in any of its Computer Based Test centres in Abuja, will also write the examination in any of the board’s accredited centres in the nation’s capital.

The spokesperson also stated that the board was limiting the registration of candidates to only approved CBT centres to end extortion of candidates, mixing up of candidates’ data, malpractices as well as for monitoring purposes.

Benjamin said: “Candidates with biometric challenges can only register at JAMB headquarters in Abuja. No other CBT centre is allowed to register such candidates, they will also sit for their examination at JAMB headquarters in Abuja.

“We noticed that some candidate(s) will just go to these centres and say they can’t register, then, they begin to ask for a reschedule or a special day.”

He stated that the board would begin the sale of forms and registration for it unified tertiary matriculation examination candidates from today till February 21.

“The period of sale or registration for all candidates (UTME /DE), including those from foreign countries is from January 10, 2019, to February 21, 2019.

“Also, the 2019 computer-based test examination will begin on Saturday, March 16 and end on March 23, 2019.

The spokesperson stated that a new measure has also been put in place for candidates to lodge their complaint to the board’s headquarters directly.

“For all complaints on JAMB processes, candidates can create a support ticket at (support.jamb.gov.ng) with his/her email address registered on the board’s site. The candidate then provides his/her name, phone number and the nature of issues, select a complain area on a dropdown and then summarised the nature of the complaint. He/she may also attach supporting documents (if available); then send,” Benjamin said.

He advised candidates to register on time before the available spaces on their town of choice or group of town are exhausted.

He urged all prospective candidates not to release their password to anyone in the process of registration.

Benjamin stated that the board would also conduct a mock examination in the accredited CBT centres to prepare and familiarise ‘interested candidates’ with CBT environment.

The spokesperson stated that the mock examination will begin from February 23.

•Sourced from The Nation report

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