By Charles Pemu 
The Federal Government has ordered a sweeping crackdown on examination malpractice across Nigeria, mandating the blacklisting of schools, Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, and candidates found guilty of misconduct. The directive, issued by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on May 27, 2025, applies to JAMB, WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB, in response to what officials have described as an alarming rise in sophisticated cheating during national exams.
Dr. Alausa instructed that any CBT centre or school implicated in malpractice should be derecognised for a number of years, with all examination bodies enforcing the penalty simultaneously. He said such coordinated sanctions would send a strong message to operators of what he termed “miracle centres.” Furthermore, any student caught cheating is to be banned from taking any external examination in Nigeria for three years. This sanction will be enforced using the National Identification Number (NIN) system to ensure compliance across all boards.
The minister’s action is backed by Section 16(2) of the Examination Malpractices Act, which allows examination bodies to share information on offenders and apply uniform disciplinary measures. The directive comes after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) raised fresh concerns over the scale of fraud uncovered during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, described the latest cases as “advanced digitised fraud,” revealing disturbing methods such as remote manipulation of examination computers, AI-driven impersonation using blended photographs, and coordinated efforts involving current undergraduates acting as mercenaries. He noted that some CBT centres extended their network coverage to off-site “strong rooms,” allowing remote submission of answers. Other techniques included candidates registering with multiple fingerprints and centres deliberately disrupting seating plans to enable fraud.
According to Oloyede, more than 3,000 candidates have already been identified as either perpetrators or beneficiaries of this nationwide fraud scheme. While some results have been withdrawn, JAMB stated that more will be invalidated as investigations progress. He warned that the involvement of tertiary institution students and centre proprietors threatens the integrity of Nigeria’s entire examination system.
The Education Minister’s directive is expected to tighten regulatory oversight, reinforce deterrence, and restore public confidence in the nation’s educational assessments. The coming months may determine whether this unified front by exam bodies will mark a turning point in Nigeria’s battle against systemic examination malpractice.