DE registration: JAMB laments low turnout, says deadline sacrosanct

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has decried the low turnout for the 2023 direct entry (DE) registration — days to the deadline. 

JAMB had earlier fixed May 26 as the deadline for sales of e-pins and May 30 as the last day to register for the exercise.

But speaking with NAN on Wednesday, Fabian Benjamin, the board’s spokesperson, lamented that registration centres in Lagos witnessed low activities.

Benjamin said the latest deadline remains sacrosanct, adding that the board will not be forced to announce further extensions.

NAN reports that at JKK Centre in Ilupeju, officials said only 13 candidates turned up to register for the exam during the day.

Reacting, Benjamin described the development as “unfortunate”. He said some people earlier accused the board of attempting to deny them the opportunity to register for the exam.

“I want to appeal to parents, stakeholders and indeed the candidates in particular, to key into this last opportunity provided by the board to do this registration as there will be no further extension,” he said.

“We have to create this additional access to respond to the cries of the public who may not know our mode of operation.

“As a responsible organisation, we do all we can to ensure that all our candidates are given equal opportunity as against a video that went viral showing candidates sleeping outside our office gate in Ikoyi on their volition, just to get registered during the last minute deadline surge.

“We have made our arrangements, we have made our calculations and we want to prove to the world that the platform we have is sufficient for the registration of our direct entry.”

The board’s spokesperson said feelers from its registration centres in Lagos indicate that they are empty.

“That is why we want to let everyone be aware, so that when eventually we close registration, no one should accuse the board,” he added.

“If we say that the candidates are not at the JKK Centre because they are not aware, what about our Ikoyi office which was originally the only place designated for the registration?

“As we speak, only about 20 to 30 candidates have trickled in to get their registration done, even after sending SMS to those who had acquired their PIN.”