The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) started today nationwide , said the organiser – the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)

JAMB discloses that more than 2.2 million candidates will be writing the examination across accredited centres from April 16 to April 22 in multiple sessions scheduled daily.

Each examination day is divided into four sessions to reduce congestion at Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and enhance biometric verification processes.

For the 2026 UTME, about 966 CBT centres are participating, each required to meet operational standards, including functional computer systems, stable connectivity and trained personnel.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, charged examination officials to demonstrate maximum commitment and professionalism.

He emphasised that the success of the UTME largely depends on their performance and dedication to duty.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) March 2026 headline inflation reports indicate that people in rural Nigerian suffer hardship more than those in the urban areas.

In the month under review headline inflation rate rose to 15.38% from the 15.06% recorded in February.

Looking at the movement, Rural inflation rate in March 2026 was 17.22% on a year-on-year basis, while on a month-on-month basis, the Rural inflation rate in March 2026 was 6.73%, up by 6.02% compared to February 2026 (0,71%).

However, on a year-on-year basis, in March 2026, the Urban inflation rate was 14.64%.

On a month-on-month basis, the Urban inflation rate was 3.16% in March 2026, up by 0.61% compared to February 2026 (2.55%).

The corresponding twelve-month average for the Urban inflation rate was 20.04% in March 2026. This was 0.06% points lower compared to the 20.10% reported in March 2025.

The Northern Christian Association has cautioned Nigerians and believers against engaging in hostile religious arguments, saying no Christian can defend God through insults or abusive exchanges.

Chairman of the association, Joseph Hayab, gave the warning in a statement issued in Kaduna, urging Christians, especially youths and clergy, to exercise restraint amid growing religious provocations on social media.

He noted many online debates presented as defence of the faith are contrary to biblical teachings and risk deepening religious divisions.

Hayab described such engagements as vain and unprofitable arguments, warning that they often lead to strife and ungodliness.

The cleric further stressed that Christians must not respond to provocation with hostility, even when their faith is ridiculed.

He maintained that God, being omnipotent, does not require human defence through verbal attacks.

Hayab further warned that using abusive language in the name of defending the faith undermines the core message of love and peace in Christianity.

He added that such actions weaken the moral authority of the Christian faith and misrepresent its true values.

The Christian body insists that with social media platforms increasingly becoming arenas for religious confrontations, the association is urging Christians to shun divisive engagements and uphold peaceful coexistence.