The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a warning to candidates sitting for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) against making desperate choices when selecting examination towns.

In a statement released yesterday in Abuja, JAMB's spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, clarified that the board does not assign examination towns for UTME or the optional mock examination.

He noted that 90 percent of the available slots for the optional mock exam across the country had already been filled, with only a few states still having available spaces.

"JAMB has observed an unusual preference among candidates for certain examination towns, likely in a bid to participate in the optional mock examination. This advisory is to caution candidates against making hasty selections, only to later accuse the board of assigning them to distant locations," Benjamin stated.

He listed the only states with remaining slots for the optional mock examination as Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe, urging interested candidates to select their examination towns accordingly.

While emphasizing that candidates have the freedom to choose their preferred examination towns, Benjamin stressed the need to consider the consequences of their choices. He warned that some candidates might inadvertently select locations far from their residences or even outside their home states, and JAMB should not be blamed for such decisions.

"The board allocates mock examination slots based on the availability of centers. Once a town's capacity is reached, it will no longer be available for selection.

"JAMB does not want to be overstretched, as the mock examination is only designed to provide deserving candidates with an opportunity to experience the Computer-Based Test (CBT) environment and allow the board to test its facilities.

"Candidates are advised to make informed decisions when selecting their examination towns, taking into account travel logistics and convenience to ensure a smooth examination experience," he added.