JAMB Makes Major Change to 2026 UTME Registration — Here’s What Candidates Must Now Declare
In a decisive move to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary admission process, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a major policy shift for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Under this new rule, all UTME candidates will now be required to declare their current admission status — that is, whether they are already enrolled in any tertiary institution in Nigeria or abroad.
According to JAMB, this update is a response to the rising cases of impersonation and examination malpractice uncovered during the 2025 UTME cycle, where investigations revealed that over 90% of offenders were already students of other institutions.
Why JAMB Introduced the New Rule
JAMB’s 2025 Infraction Report exposed an alarming trend: students who had already secured admission into higher institutions were returning to sit for UTME again — often to assist others, engage in impersonation, or manipulate the system for fraudulent admissions.
To tackle this, JAMB has directed all registration centers and departments to include a compulsory declaration field in the 2026 UTME registration template. This field will require candidates to truthfully indicate whether they are currently students of any tertiary institution before completing their registration.
Penalties for False Declarations
The Board has also warned that candidates who fail to declare their true admission status or submit false information will face serious consequences. Offenders risk:
- Immediate cancellation of their registration
- Withdrawal of previously granted admission
- Possible prosecution under existing laws
JAMB emphasized that this is an early warning to all prospective candidates that any act compromising the integrity of the UTME or the admission system will not be tolerated.
JAMB’s Stand on Transparent Admissions
The examination body reiterated that the UTME is designed for fresh admission seekers only. Candidates already admitted into any tertiary institution — whether public or private, local or international — must not register for the exam without full disclosure.
A statement from the Board reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fairness, and accountability in Nigeria’s admission process. The policy, it said, aims to restore public trust and ensure that only qualified, honest candidates gain admission through legitimate means.
Final Note to Prospective Candidates
By enforcing this new rule, JAMB continues to safeguard the credibility of its examinations and Nigeria’s entire tertiary admission system.
All prospective 2026 UTME candidates are therefore advised to carefully follow the updated registration guidelines and ensure full disclosure of their admission status to avoid disqualification or legal consequences.
You may also like to read: JAMB Issues Strong Warning to Institutions Over Unethical Admission Practices
