Hundreds of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates in the Southwest yesterday protested in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, over non-availability of exam centres.
The candidates marched on most media offices, calling on the government to come to their aid.
The examination is organised by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for new entrants into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the protest leader, Ola Jacobs, said Nigerians should prevail on those concerned to find a solution to their predicament.
“There is no centre for us in the Southwest to write the exams. Can you imagine a candidate travelling as far as Enugu to write an examination just because there is no centre here?
“Some candidates will go to Abuja, Nasarawa and Edo. Candidates who registered last year had no problems.
“But, all of us who registered last month have no centres. We have gone to JAMB to complain but our problems were not addressed. The deadline was last Friday but it was extended to Friday.”
Asked why it took them so long to register, he said it was the difficulty encountered in the purchase of scratch cards.
“Each time we go to their office, they tell us cards are not available. The same cards are being sold in black market for N9,000 but the approved price is N5,500.
“All we are saying is that they should extend the deadline to enable them address this issue. They should pity us ,” he said.
