As the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) suspends the commencement of the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) there is indication that candidates for the UTME in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State can now sit for their examination in Bonny.

JAMB spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin disclosed that the delay was caused by some unforeseen circumstances occasioned by its determined effort to have National Identity Number (NIN) integration.

“To be sure all processes are completed before the commencement, the Board didn’t place its advertorial as it was yet to complete the process of a smooth PIN vending and candidate access to the registration app for the 2021 UTME/DE.”

“The advertisement is the surest indication of the beginning of the exercise as it has all the step-by-step process that candidates are required to follow. However, this delay is caused by some unforeseen circumstances occasioned by our determined effort to have NIN integration.”

An indigene of the area, Rex Banigo revealed on his Facebook wall on Friday, April 9, 2021 that the UTME Centre, popularly known as the Bonny Kingdom JAMB Centre, has now been reopened by the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB).

Kristina Reports checks confirmed that the Bonny Kingdomm JAMB Centre is No. 746 on the list of JAMB accredited centres on the JAMB website, www.jamb.gov.ng/accredited_centres.

He disclosed that JAMB has also reinstated the Bonny Kingdom JAMB Centre on its website, adding that he had taken custody of the materials for the 2021 UTME Registration and the materials were en route Bonny and would arrive on Friday, April 9, 2021.

Banigo further announced that registration would commence on Monday, April 12, 2021.

“Update on Bonny Kingdom JAMB Center. I have received the materials for the 2021 JAMB registration in Bonny, the materials would arrive Bonny today being 9th of April 2021 while registration would commence fully from Monday, 12th April, 2021.”  

“Please, be rest assured that the center is fully reinstated both on the JAMB website and would be used for registration and the exams proper. We bless the Almighty who has rewarded and will continue to reward our labour of love.”

The Bonny JAMB Centre has been shut down for about a year due to unresolved issues between stakeholders thus subjecting residents of the area to the tortuous experience of having to travel to Port Harcourt and other places to sit for their UTME examinations.

The Centre is a Build, Operate and Transfer corporate social responsibility (CSR) project by Schneider Electric to Bonny Kingdom.

Sources revealed to Kristina Reports that the process for the official handing over of the Centre to the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC) is on already and may take place before the end of the second quarter of 2021.

Reacting to the development, Secretary of the Bluejack Family, a subhouse of the Fubara Manilla Pepple Chieftaincy House of Bonny Kingdom, Adaobu Bluejack praised the Amanyanabo, Chiefs and management of JAMB for the positive development.

Bluejack described the reinstatement of the Centre as “a good one”, saying it would be beneficial to Bonny Kingdom and save the UTME candidates from the area the stress of traveling far to sit for their examinations.