The examination started as planned at all accredited CBT centres in Abuja and likely across other locations nationwide.

A visit to Zinaria International School Mararaba, Nasarawa state as CBT centre, candidates arrived as early as 6am for those scheduled for the 7 a.m. session.

Speaking to NATIONAL ACCORD at the centre, the Biometric Verification Officer, Jamila Karimu disclosed that out of 250 candidates that were expected to sit for the first session, 238 candidates were successfully verified, while 12 candidates were absent.

As for the External Supervisor, Comfort Ochepo, apart from 2-3 candidates who initially found it difficult to access verification, every other things went seamless.

According to her the first session started as early as 8:10am and that the second was expected to start at 1:30pm.

On the issue of security, he noted that apart from the school security agents, external securities were deployed to maintain law and order during the examination.

Also, the Resident Monitor, Ramat Ali, disclosed that apart from the few issues of the system disconnection which were solved immediately, the examination went seamlessly.

Susan Arigu, a candidate said they have no prble logging into the system and that the exercise was hitch free.

Another Candidate, Joseph James, who told our Correspondent that he sat for last year UTME and had to resit this year because he had deficiency in his WAEC added that he found mathematics a little difficult, he believes he will scale through.

JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede assured candidates of a smooth experience. “We’ve introduced innovations to enhance the system’s credibility, efficiency, and seamlessness,” he said.

The UTME, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), tests candidates seeking university admission.

A few weeks ago, JAMB held a mock-UTME for 211,000 candidates. The board clarified that mock results would not count towards the main UTME scores. Introduced years ago, the mock-UTME helps candidates experience the exam format, overcome anxiety, and allows JAMB to test new strategies for the main exam, which began on April 24.

The Director, Fiscal Affairs Department IMF, Vitor Gaspar, said this at a Fiscal Monitor news conference at the ongoing 2025 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.

He said that there was an urgent need for fiscal authorities and governments to build buffers.

According to him, governments need to act urgently and decisively as they face harsh trade offs and painful choices.

He said it was important for policy makers to invest their political capital in building confidence and trust that starts with keeping their own houses in order.

” This is especially important in a situation that tests the resilience of individual economies, not to mention the entire system.

“Putting house in order involves three policy priorities. first, fiscal policy should be part of an overall policies.

“Secondly, fiscal policy should in most countries, aim at reducing public debt and rebuilding buffers to create space to respond to spending pressures and other economic shocks through a credible medium term framework.

“Thirdly, fiscal policy should together with other structural policies, aim at improving potential growth, thereby easing policy trade offs in these times of high uncertainty.

“Fiscal policy must be an anchor for confidence and stability that contributes to a competitive economy, delivering growth and prosperity for all ministers of finance must build trust, tax fairly, spend wisely and take the long team,” the director said.

The Nigerian Division Chief in the Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF, Davide Furceri, said that Nigeria had been able to make some of those painful choices to have space for fiscal savings but it needs to spend wisely.

“Nigeira managed to do a very difficult reform that was important in delivering fiscal savings.”

Furceri said that the country need to focus on boosting revenue through improved mobilisation efforts, and secondly, scaling up spending in key areas like social protection and investment.

“That said, we understand that many countries, including Nigeria, face pressing spending needs. But spending must be done wisely, this means stronger prioritisation and greater efficiency in how resources are allocated.

“One key message not just for Nigeria, but for many countries, is the importance of strong fiscal institutions. Medium-term fiscal frameworks and solid public financial management systems.are essential.

“They provide a fiscal anchor to guide necessary adjustments and help reduce uncertainty. We want fiscal policy to be a source of stability, not a source of volatility,” he said. (NAN)