By Ralph Agbana
Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, has facilitated the upgrade of facilities in selected secondary schools for the establishment of four additional Computer-Based Test centres across the senatorial district.
The initiative, captured in the 2026 appropriation, is part of efforts to ensure greater access to education and examination centres for constituents.
The development comes on the heels of last weekâs successful hosting of over 1,200 candidates who sat the 2026 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examinations at the 288-seater CBT centre in Titcombe College, Egbe, facilitated by the senator in partnership with the institutionâs alumni association.
Karimi disclosed this in an interview in Abuja on Friday, noting that three more CBT centres had been included in the 2026 budget ahead of the next JAMB and West African Examinations Council examinations.
According to him, funds have been provided for the conversion of existing structures at Muslim Community Secondary School, Lokogoma, Lokoja; Government Science School, Iyara; and Okutadudu Comprehensive College, Odo-Ere, located in Lokoja, Ijumu and Yagba West Local Government Areas respectively.
He said the projects would involve rehabilitation and reconstruction of the structures to accommodate 275-capacity CBT centres, each to be equipped with 275 laptops, internet connectivity, Closed Circuit Television cameras, solar energy systems, standby generators and toilet facilities tailored to meet JAMB requirements.
âI am already in discussion with the contractor for timely delivery of the projects without waiting for fund releases from the Federal Government, so the facilities can be ready and approved for the 2027 JAMB and WAEC examinations,â he said.
Karimi added that based on the experience gathered from the Titcombe College Old Students Association CBT centre in Egbe, efforts would be intensified to ensure seamless delivery of the new centres to serve Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu, Lokoja/Kotonkarfe and Yagba Federal Constituencies.
In addition to the three centres captured in the budget, the lawmaker, who is Chairman of the Senate Services Committee, also pledged to personally support the establishment of a fourth CBT centre at ECWA Secondary School, Mopa, in Mopamuro Local Government Area, in collaboration with the host community.
