The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JAMB) says it may shift the date for its 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME ).

Ishaq Oloyede, the JAMB registrar, spoke at a virtual meeting with the 2021 UTME committee members on Friday.

He said the board is considering if there is a need to extend the registration period and consequently change the date for this year’s exam.

According to him, the development comes on the back of the inability of at least 600,000 candidates to register for the examination scheduled to hold between June 5 and 19.

He said the candidates were finding it difficult to register due to the challenges of National Identification Number (NIN).

Also Read:  UK, US, France, Others To Support Boko Haram Victims With £276m

“The possibility of shifting the exam forward is still high, but that will be determined after our meeting with stakeholders,” the professor was quoted as saying.

“This is because about 600,000 candidates who have indicated an interest in the exam are yet to register. There is a need to give everyone the opportunity.”

“We apologise for putting you through some hardship in the registration. The government directed that anyone participating in JAMB must have their NIN. This is beyond our control. Those who are yet to register should do so.

“The mock exam is billed to come up on May 20. It is an optional exam meant to test the system. As you all know, the main exam is coming up between June 5 and June 19.

“Shifting the exam date is not the solution, at the meeting we will discuss on how some of the problems encountered by candidates will be resolved. It is important that we carry everyone along,’’ he added.