By Ghazali Ibrahim
Hundreds of Direct Entry (DE) applicants seeking university admission have been left stranded for days at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) offices across Nigeria due to delays and complications in the 2025 DE registration process.
In a video captured by our correspondent, students—some of whom traveled from distant places—were seen sleeping outside JAMB offices, queuing as early as 4:00 a.m., and appealing to officials for faster service. The situation has triggered frustration and outcry among affected students and parents alike.
“I went there on the 15th of march they asked me to come back on the 24th when I got there they said no light they can’t register anyone again that I should come back again… So instead of wasting money I asked my friend to go and Inform .. he went and he still didn’t register that’s why I decided to go back to ogba .. I was asked to book appointment for tomorrow”, said a source privy to BlackBox Nigeria.
He decry the failure of Jamb to provide adequate facilities for the staff working on their behalf as different excjses keep popping everyday from their officials.
“If we want to register for direct entry.. we are only to go with requirements and buy e-pin online and go to jamb office then register but now if you go to jamb office they will asked you to book appointment after booking an appointment you will go and registered that’s all.
“But here in Nigeria you will 2 weeks infact a month to register with different excuses from them that there no light , no fuel in the generator, etc .. but if you bribe them they will register you within 5min … All the people that have been going there wasting there transport fare without being attended to”.
The DE pathway is intended for candidates who already hold qualifications such as National Diplomas (ND), Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE), or IJMB.
However, this year’s registration process has been plagued by technical glitches, document verification delays, and limited registration centers.
At the JAMB Zonal Office in Lagos, security personnel struggled to control the growing crowd, while some students alleged they had been extorted by unofficial agents promising “faster processing.”
However, the students are in fear of the initial closure of the registration which falls on Monday 7th April.
In a twist plot, the Exam body through it’s Spokesperson said that the initial 7th April is for the closure of e-pin while Friday 11th April is earmarked for the closure of normal registration.
The board has not issued an official statement as of press time, though several state coordinators have advised students to remain patient and avoid third-party agents.
As of Saturday, the registration portal remained open, but crowds persisted outside major JAMB offices, with no immediate end in sight to the bottleneck.
