The incident reportedly took place on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre along Sango–Eleyele Road, Arometa.
Videos circulating online appear to show a candidate being instructed to take off her hijab before gaining access to the centre, sparking reactions across social media.
An X user, @AlfaShehu01, raised an alarm over the situation, describing it as a violation of rights.
“UTME Muslim candidates are being denied entry into the exam hall because they have hijab on. In 2026?” he wrote.
He further called for urgent intervention from relevant authorities and stakeholders.
“This is to urgently alert the public, Muslim community, JAMB authorities, and human rights bodies about an ongoing violation happening right now,” he added.
According to him, the centre in question is a recognised UTME-accredited facility.
“Candidates wearing hijab are being compelled to remove their hijab before being allowed to sit for their JAMB exams at this centre. This is a direct violation of the candidates’ constitutional right to freedom of religion and JAMB’s own guidelines that permit hijab,” he stated.
The UTME, conducted nationwide, is scheduled to run from April 16 to April 25, 2026, with over 2.2 million registered candidates expected to participate.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the examination body or the centre’s management regarding the allegations.