Thousands of candidates across Nigeria were left in suspense over the weekend as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board failed to release the expected second batch of 2026 UTME results on schedule.
The board had earlier indicated that results for candidates who sat for the examination on Friday, April 17, would be made available by Saturday. However, when the deadline passed without any update, concern quickly spread among students and parents who had been eagerly waiting.
Addressing the situation, JAMB clarified that the delay was not due to technical failure but rather an administrative bottleneck. According to its spokesperson,Fabian Benjamin , the absence of the board’s Chief Executive due to an official assignment temporarily stalled the approval process required before releasing the results.
With the Chief Executive now back in office as of Sunday, April 19, the board says the pending results are undergoing final processing and will be released soon.
JAMB also acknowledged the frustration caused by the delay, particularly among candidates who stayed up expecting the release. The board expressed regret over the inconvenience and appreciated the patience shown during the unexpected wait.
The development follows the earlier release of results from the first batch of the examination, conducted on April 16, which saw over 600,000 candidates successfully access their scores.
While the explanation may have eased immediate concerns, the incident highlights ongoing pressure on examination bodies to meet tight timelines in a high-stakes, digital testing environment.
