Soldiers to be deployed at flashpoint centre during UTME

THE military is to be deployed in some flashpoints across the country during the forthcoming 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

A statement issued on Thursday by JAMB spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said the board had formed a synergy with Nigerian Army to secure the Computer Based Tests (CBT) centres with a view to having a hitch-free examination.

He said the Registrar and Chief Executive of JAMB, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, at a meeting with the military high command in Abuja, solicited for the intervention and cooperation of the Nigerian Army in the forthcoming examination.

While commending the Nigerian Army for uniting the country, particularly the feat it recorded in the insurgency war and restoring peace in other turbulent areas, Oloyede outlined his mission to Defence Headquarters.

He pointed out that the mandate of JAMB was to conduct matriculation examination and place suitably qualified candidates desirous of qualitative education to all Nigerian tertiary institutions, adding that the board was at the verge of the first process hence, the need to secure the venues, candidates and examination officials.

The Registrar noted that over 678 centres across the country against the last year’s figure of 650 CBT centres would be put to use with estimated 1.5 million candidates for the examination, adding that 1.237 million candidates had submitted their application already.

Oloyede also told the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai that though there was collaboration with Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to airlift candidates in riverine areas to their CBT centres.

The JAMB Registrar, while listing some security prone areas like North-East, South-South, among others, noted that the process of seeking admission through the conduct of examination should not be truncated, adding that the sight of security presence during the examination would give the candidate a high level of satisfaction and confidence.

The JAMB Chief Executive informed the army management that this year, the board was capturing candidates 10 fingers to forestall any incident of multiple registration as noticed with previous year’s registration.

Responding, Buratai described the visit as unique and symbolic, stating that the military would ensure that there was peace and harmony in the country.

He said as part of their constitutional responsibilities, the Nigerian Army would continue to uphold and make sure that the task given to them was accomplished.

He said some of the flashpoints pointed by the registrar were not only safe, but habitable and he disclosed that normalcy, particularly in the North-East, had return even as he promised to deploy troop for more surveillance and protection during the period stated for the examination.

The Chief of Training and Operations was directed to liaise with officers and men on ground to strengthen the security of the centres and officials, particularly those in turbulent states.