**CBT Operators Express Concern Over N700 Registration Fee as JAMB Remits N1.57bn to Centres** The Computer-Based Test Centres Proprietors Association of Nigeria has expressed concerns over the N700 registration fee for candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), describing it as grossly inadequate. The association's President, Austin Ohaekelem, spoke to a leading Nigerian publication, The PUNCH, following the announcement by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) that it has remitted N1.57 billion to accredited CBT centres for the 2026 UTME registration exercise. According to JAMB, the payment represents the N700 fee collected from candidates on behalf of the CBT centres and is remitted weekly alongside ePIN registration charges. This amount is part of the total fees paid by candidates, which includes the N7,200 for UTME only, N8,700 for UTME with mock, and N5,700 for Direct Entry. However, Ohaekelem noted that the N700 charge has not kept pace with the increasing operational costs and logistical challenges faced by CBT centres. "The cost of registering a candidate is no longer N700," he said, adding that this amount has remained unchanged since 2016, despite the rising cost of living and inflation. In Naija context, this issue resonates with many Nigerians who have witnessed the increasing cost of living and doing business in the country. The CBT operators are asking for a review of the registration fee to reflect the current realities, which would help them provide better services to candidates. The PUNCH reports that JAMB has maintained its fee structure since 2018, vowing to sanction any centre found to be overcharging candidates. However, the CBT proprietors are urging JAMB to reconsider the N700 registration fee, which they believe is no longer sufficient to cover their operational costs.