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Anambra and Lagos Lead in 2025 UTME Malpractices: JAMB Battles Sophisticated Exam Fraud

In a sobering revelation that casts a long shadow over Nigeria’s education system, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has disclosed that Anambra and Lagos States have emerged as the top culprits in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination malpractice cases. The development underscores not just the persistent threat of academic dishonesty but also the growing sophistication of examination fraud in the country.

Speaking at a press briefing on Friday at JAMB’s headquarters in Abuja, the Registrar of the board, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, said that over 80 suspects are currently in police custody across the country for various offences, ranging from impersonation and biometric manipulation to possession of prohibited items like mobile phones and calculators.

Anambra leads the chart with 14 arrests, followed closely by Lagos with nine. According to JAMB, these arrests were tied to impersonation, spying, and a concerning rise in biometric irregularities designed to cheat the board’s robust Computer-Based Testing system.

A breakdown of the numbers shows Anambra State with 14 suspects (13 for impersonation and one for picture mismatch), Lagos with nine suspects (impersonation, spying, mobile phone possession), Delta with eight (impersonation), Kano with seven (impersonation and illegal phone possession), Kaduna with six (impersonation and phone use), Rivers with six (impersonation, mobile phones, and calculators), and both Ebonyi and Enugu with five each (impersonation).

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These figures are alarming not only for their frequency but also for what they reveal about systemic weaknesses still plaguing Nigeria’s educational assessments, despite digital upgrades.

Professor Oloyede stated that JAMB is no longer dealing with mere students looking to cut corners, but with syndicates and criminal networks that have mastered technological fraud. Some of the biometric frauds detected involved combined thumbprints between candidates and hired impersonators. In other cases, candidates were found to have registered twice — once under their real identity and another under a false one to allow someone else to take the exam on their behalf.

Some Computer-Based Test centres have been complicit in these malpractices. JAMB is in the process of blacklisting several centres found to be aiding exam fraud, and they will face criminal prosecution.

In a striking case, a blind candidate reportedly hired another blind man, already an undergraduate, to sit for the exam in his place. This case, described by JAMB as unprecedented, is still under investigation, and disciplinary and legal measures are expected to follow.

The revelation that Anambra and Lagos are leading in UTME malpractice cases raises significant concerns. Both states have historically performed well in UTME rankings, often producing some of the nation’s top scorers. However, this new data suggests that intense pressure to succeed and the commercialization of exam success may be fueling illegal practices.

In Anambra, where academic excellence is often tied to community prestige, some families are willing to go to great lengths to ensure their children achieve top scores. In Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, the sheer volume of candidates and high availability of illicit tech services may be contributing to the growing trend.

Experts argue that the issue goes deeper than just exam fraud. It reflects a broader societal decay where merit is often displaced by manipulation, and where short-term gains are prioritized over long-term integrity.

Dr. Chinyere Uche, a sociologist and lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, believes that exam malpractice is simply mirroring the wider corruption in society.

“When leaders cheat, when job opportunities go to the highest bidder and not the best candidate, young people take notes. Exam cheating becomes a survival tactic,” she said.

The problem is not new. For decades, Nigeria’s exam bodies have battled everything from leaked papers and ‘miracle centres’ to bribed invigilators and certificate forgery. However, the shift to computer-based testing was supposed to end this era. While CBT has eliminated traditional leakages, it has opened the door to new forms of digital malpractice.

Professor Oloyede admitted that JAMB is ahead of many fraudsters, but the battle is ongoing.

“For every new technology we adopt, there’s a group trying to subvert it. But we are constantly evolving, and we won’t give up,” he said.

To combat these challenges, JAMB has deployed several high-tech solutions, including artificial intelligence for facial recognition, layered biometric checks during registration and testing, and digital surveillance of test centres. The board is also collaborating with law enforcement agencies, the Nigerian Communications Commission, and international partners like Interpol to track and dismantle cheating syndicates.

JAMB also said it will not spare any CBT centre found guilty of collusion. The board has already sanctioned multiple centres this year and revoked their licenses. More centres are under investigation.

The consequences for candidates are dire. Those caught engaging in fraud face disqualification, blacklisting, and possible jail terms under Nigeria’s cybercrime and examination malpractice laws. Moreover, their results are withheld, and they are barred from future UTME cycles for a specified number of years.

For innocent candidates, these scandals can delay admissions, as schools are often forced to hold off on processing applications due to investigations or verification processes.

Tertiary institutions are not left out. Universities that unknowingly admit candidates with fraudulent results suffer in terms of academic performance and public trust. As such, many universities now carry out their own post-UTME screening, including biometric checks and oral interviews.

Beyond malpractices, JAMB also released performance statistics for the 2025 UTME. Out of 1.9 million candidates, over 1.5 million scored below 200 marks, which is often considered the average threshold. The UTME is scored over 400 and tests candidates in four subjects, including compulsory Use of English and three others relevant to the candidate’s chosen course.

These poor results have reignited the debate about the quality of secondary education in Nigeria. Many educators argue that rote learning, poor infrastructure, lack of trained teachers, and an overstretched public school system are to blame for the dismal performance.

Some blame the country’s obsession with certificates over knowledge, leading students to focus on passing exams rather than truly understanding the material.

JAMB has called on parents, guardians, religious leaders, and community influencers to help promote academic honesty and reduce the glorification of short cuts.

Professor Oloyede also emphasized that combating malpractice is not JAMB’s burden alone.

“We need a national rebirth. Cheating in exams is just a symptom of a deeper disease. We must treat the root — a societal disregard for integrity,” he said.

The Ministry of Education has announced plans to revisit the CBT centre accreditation process. There is also a proposal to introduce mandatory ethics education in schools, from primary to tertiary level, to rebuild moral foundations.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies are continuing their investigation into arrested suspects. Many face prosecution under existing laws, and JAMB has vowed to publish the names and photos of convicted culprits and blacklisted centres.

Some civil rights groups have welcomed JAMB’s transparency, urging other public institutions to follow suit. However, they have also called for caution, ensuring that the rights of suspects are protected until proven guilty.

One parent whose child was wrongly flagged due to a centre’s error expressed frustration.

“My daughter studied hard and did nothing wrong. But now her result is on hold. JAMB must find a better way to distinguish between real offenders and victims of system failures,” he said.

Stakeholders are divided on whether the current system is fair. While many support strict measures, others believe that JAMB should invest more in candidate orientation and CBT simulation exercises to help poor and rural students adapt.

The Nigerian Union of Teachers has also weighed in, stating that malpractices begin in schools.

“We must train teachers better, monitor exam conduct in schools more closely, and enforce penalties on principals or proprietors who enable cheating during internal tests,” said a spokesperson.

There is also an ongoing debate about the commercialization of exam preparation in Nigeria. Thousands of ‘miracle’ centres, special coaching houses, and dubious tutorials across the country charge exorbitant fees and promise guaranteed success in UTME. Many are linked to exam fraud.

Parents, under pressure to secure admission for their children, sometimes fall prey to these schemes. And in turn, these unethical actors continue to profit and expand.

The National Orientation Agency has called for a national campaign to promote values like hard work, discipline, and honesty among youth. It also recommended the use of media, film, music, and influencers to shift the narrative around education.

Religious organizations have also joined the conversation. Some churches and mosques now organize UTME prep classes and insist on merit-based success. Others have instituted scholarships and mentorship programs to support honest but underprivileged students.

The broader public reaction to JAMB’s latest report has been mixed. While many Nigerians are outraged, others are not surprised. Social media platforms were awash with comments ranging from condemnation to resigned acceptance.

One user wrote: “JAMB is trying, but this country needs moral reengineering. If kids are cheating in exams, what will they do in public office?”

Another commented: “We’re raising criminals in school uniforms. We must act now.”

For now, JAMB is standing its ground. The board has said it will continue to refine its processes, strengthen security, and pursue offenders to the full extent of the law.

It is also calling on candidates and the public to report suspicious activity via its official channels.

As Nigeria grapples with this latest scandal, the key question remains: how do we fix a system where cheating seems easier than studying?

Only time will tell whether the bold steps taken by JAMB, backed by societal and institutional support, will finally shift the tide.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that Anambra and Lagos States recorded the highest number of arrests linked to examination malpractice during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, announced during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday that 80 suspects are currently under investigation for various infractions, including impersonation, biometric fra¥d, and illegal possession of devices during the UTME.

According to Prof. Oloyede, the Board detected increasingly sophisticated ch£ating methods during registration and the exams. These included identity fra¥d, biometric manipulation involving combined thumbprints from both candidates and impersonators, double registrations, and attempted candidate substitution.

Anambra topped the list with 14 suspects—13 for impersonation and one for submitting a mismatched photograph. Lagos followed with nine suspects linked to impersonation, spying, and possession of mobile phones.

Other states with multiple arrests include Delta (, Kano (7), Kaduna and Rivers (6 each), and Ebonyi and Enugu (5 each), primarily for impersonation and the illegal use of mobile phones or calculators.

In a particularly unusual case, a blind candidate reportedly hired another blind undergraduate to impersonate him in the examination hall.

“These emerging trends are alarming and demand a coordinated response from CBT centres, parents, and relevant authorities,” Oloyede warned.