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| Ongoing examination at the Bonny JAMB Centre in a previous year. |
There is palpable tension in Bonny, headquarters of Bonny Local Government Area in Rivers State over the shutdown of the JAMB Centre there.
Kristina Reports has learnt that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) shutdown the centre due to a report by its accreditation team citing security challenges in the area.
But stakeholders in Bonny LGA, who spoke to Kristina Reports say such a report was unfounded and mischievous as Bonny LGA remains the most peaceful part of the country.
The island located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean hosts Nigeria’s economic behemoths: Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited, among other high profile businesses.
The Bonny JAMB Centre which boasts of state-of-art facilities which even surpasses JAMB requirements has been used to conduct the unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME) for 2017 and 2018 but was curiously delisted this year.
Checks by Kristina Reports indicate that there was a petition alleging security challenges in the area especially, during electioneering seasons. 2019 is an election year in Nigeria.
Reacting to the development, the lawmaker representing Degema/Bonny federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Randolph Brown condemned the decision of the exam body, saying “they can’t use that against us”.
“A few people just sit in Abuja and deprive us of education. They’re busy making their money here but want to deprive our children the opportunity of advancing their education”.
On his part, the member representing Bonny constituency in the State House of Assembly, Abinye Pepple called for calm, saying “we’re working on it. It will soon be resolved”.
Chairman of Bonny LGA, David Irimagha assured that everything was being done to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, noting that it was imperative to reopen the centre so the young people can sit for the exam in Bonny.
He stressed that it would be more expensive and distressful for both the candidates and their parents to go sit for the exam outside Bonny as it would expose them to unnecessary uncertainties.
Also speaking on the issue, a former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Bonny LGA, Cyril Hart noted that “the Bonny JAMB Centre is the most sophisticated and standard centre in Nigeria. I do not think any JAMB centre in Nigeria can measure up with the Bonny Centre.”
He maintained that “Bonny is safer than any LGA in Nigeria – No kidnapping, No Boko Haram, No Herders’ and farmers’ clashes, and beheading of any sort. So, what security reason is JAMB talking about? Could it be that Jamb relied on access to Bonny via the Bonny Jetty in Port-Harcourt to say Bonny is not safe?”
He offered to “arrange NLNG boat/flight bookings and FREE hotel accommodation for all the JAMB officials whenever they are coming to Bonny Local Government Area. The Bonny JAMB centre surpasses Jamb’s criteria and must be accredited this year. Their reason is unacceptable to us.”
A pressure group in the area, Okolo-Ama Ikpangi also lent their voice to the debacle. In a chat with Kristina Reports, the group’s spokesman, Samuel Tolofari advised JAMB to rescind it decision and allow the centre to be used by young people in the area.
“JAMB should ensure lifting the suspension off the Bonny JAMB Centre because we have lost brothers, sisters and children for decades while they were en route to Port Harcourt or other JAMB centres.”
“The people of Bonny have to cross the sea to participate in JAMB activities, and all the time we made our losses, we never petitioned JAMB that Port Harcourt or other JAMB centres outside Bonny is insecure.”
On its part, the Bonny Youths Federation (BYF) via a statement by its Director of Publicity, Ibienimi Allison called on would be candidates to exercise patience as the relevant authorities have been engaged to ensure the reversal of the decision and reopening of the centre.
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