The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticised the early morning schedule set for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Students are expected to start exams as early as 6:30 a.m., a decision NANS describes as careless and dangerous, considering the current security situation in the country.
Speaking through its National President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, and National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Samson Ajasa Adeyemi, the association released a statement on Sunday, warning that the new timetable puts students at serious risk. According to NANS, many candidates must leave their homes before dawn, travel long distances, and pass through unsafe areas just to get to their exam centres. Reports from different states show that students have faced transportation problems and exposure to unsafe conditions on their way to the tests.
NANS stressed that student safety should be a top priority, not an afterthought. The group demanded that JAMB immediately adjust the UTME timetable so that no exam begins before 9:00 a.m. They also called on the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, to step in and prevent further risks to student lives caused by what they described as poor planning.
In a firm warning, NANS issued a 72-hour ultimatum to JAMB to revise the timetable or face nationwide peaceful protests. The association made it clear that the welfare and security of Nigerian students must never be compromised. They also pledged to continue fighting for policies that protect students and allow them to pursue their education without unnecessary obstacles.
