The Federal Government has issued a decisive directive to all major examination bodies—including JAMB, WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB—to blacklist Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and candidates involved in examination malpractice, following alarming revelations from the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Over 3,000 candidates were reportedly implicated in sophisticated cheating tactics during the exam, including hacking of CBT systems, AI-generated impersonations, and collusion with professional exam takers.
FG’s Crackdown on Exam Fraud: Key Measures
Announcing the measures, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring integrity to Nigeria’s examination process:
🔒 Three-Year Ban on Offenders
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Candidates caught cheating will face an automatic 3-year ban from all national external exams.
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The National Identification Number (NIN) will be used to track and enforce this ban across JAMB, WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB platforms.
🚫 Sanctions for CBT Centres and Schools
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CBT centres, secondary schools, or institutions that facilitate or permit malpractice will be blacklisted and derecognized.
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All exam bodies are instructed to apply sanctions simultaneously, ensuring no loopholes for offenders.
⚖️ Legal Framework
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These actions are backed by Section 16(2) of the Examination Malpractices Act, which mandates inter-agency collaboration to enforce uniform penalties.
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Legal action will also be pursued against individuals and institutions found complicit.
Government’s Warning to ‘Miracle Centres’
The Ministry noted that this directive forms part of a larger mission to dismantle “miracle centres”, illicit venues known for facilitating cheating among candidates.
“We must end this cycle of academic dishonesty,” Dr. Alausa declared. “A nation that cheats in exams is breeding a future of incompetence.”
Call for National Responsibility
The FG called on parents, educators, and school administrators to support the drive for exam credibility by:
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Educating students on the consequences of cheating
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Reporting suspected malpractice
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Encouraging merit-based academic achievement
What This Means for Students
Students are urged to:
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Prepare diligently for exams
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Avoid centres with reputations for malpractice
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Ensure their NIN registration details are accurate to avoid wrongful sanction
This directive signals a new era of zero tolerance for exam fraud, marking a critical shift toward restoring trust and fairness in Nigeria’s education system.
