- Obi said blacklisted centres should operate under monitoring while investigations are conducted to reduce hardship on students.
- The former governor claimed JAMB failed to notify many affected centres of specific blacklisting reasons.
The former governor of Anambra, Peter Obi, has criticised the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for blacklisting 17 computer-based test (CBT) centres in the state.
He said the decision was inflicting unnecessary hardship on students who needed to make course or institution changes ahead of post-UTME screenings.
Obi, in a statement on Friday, recalled visiting the JAMB office in Amawbia, where he met a crowd of weary students.
He said many explained they were there because most CBT centres in the state could no longer provide the service.
“Further investigation revealed that out of 28 JAMB-approved centres in Anambra State, 17 have been blacklisted,” the statement read.
The former governor added that a number of these centres were never told the specific reasons for the action taken against them.
According to him, the blacklisting had forced students to make repeated trips and travel long distances to the state office.
He alleged that service charges had also skyrocketed, saying a process that should cost about N1,500 was now priced at N15,000 at the JAMB office.
Obi claimed that these costs were sometimes padded with unofficial fees.
He warned that the situation risked jeopardising students’ academic prospects, as many might be unable to complete necessary changes before screening dates.
The former governor urged JAMB to handle the matter with transparency and compassion.
He suggested that the affected centres could continue operating under close monitoring while any investigations were carried out.
“Education remains the hope of our nation. We must not allow bureaucratic bottlenecks and opacity to derail the dreams of our young people,” Obi said.
He appealed to JAMB to prioritise the welfare of students when making such decisions.
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