Prospective UTME candidates protest in Calabar

Prospective Students in Calabar took to the streets to protest against their inability to register for the 2017 UTME.

The candidates, who started the protest at 7am from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) office on Marian Road, went round Barracks Road and the Millennium Park, before returning to the JAMB office.

The candidates were chanting solidarity songs and held fresh leaves in their hands, while the Police and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps followed them to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

A candidate, Mr Jeremiah Osibu, said that since the beginning of the registration on March 20, he had not been able to get his Personal Identity Number for his registration.

“The process of registration this year has been so difficult. I come to this JAMB office every working day; but till now, I have not been registered,’’ he said.

Also, Miss Comfort Eban, said that after paying the N6, 200 fee for the UTME, she had spent more than N8,000 on transportation from her house to JAMB office since March 20.

“I am joining this protest today because we want our leaders and the examination body to do something about it. The 2017 process of registration is too stressful.

“From the look of things, if this registration continues like this in the next few days, thousands of prospective candidates would not be able to sit for this examination,” she said.

Mr Richard Onah, who said he came from Ogoja Local Government Area to register for the examination, called on JAMB to extend the registration to capture all prospective candidates.

Efforts made to speak with JAMB officials in the state were not successful as protesters blocked the entrance to the JAMB office.

Petty traders were making brisk businesses through the sales of food, sachet water, biscuits and banana, as a result of the delay being experienced by prospective UTME candidates in JAMB office.

(NAN)