ABUJA – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a strong warning to candidates preparing for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE).
According to the board, any candidate who fails to declare an existing admission risks losing both the previous admission and any new offer received.
The warning was announced on Monday by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin. He explained that the directive is meant to clear up false information currently circulating on social media about admission eligibility.
Disclosure is mandatory, not a ban
JAMB emphasized that it is not an offense for a student already enrolled in a tertiary institution to register for UTME/DE. The offense lies in failing to declare that status during registration. The board’s policy is designed to prevent multiple matriculations, a core part of its mandate.
“Disclosure simply means that once a candidate secures admission through the latest registration, the former admission automatically ceases,” JAMB explained. “The law is explicit that no candidate is permitted to hold two admissions concurrently.”
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While JAMB’s systems can detect prior admissions, candidates who do not voluntarily disclose their status risk losing both opportunities.
Clamping down on malpractice and misinformation
The warning follows false claims circulating online that current undergraduates are banned from sitting the 2026 examinations. JAMB dismissed these reports as misleading and described them as the work of “unscrupulous self-styled education advocates.”
The policy was first introduced in November 2025 as part of efforts to curb impersonation and examination malpractice. According to JAMB’s 2025 infraction reports, many candidates involved in malpractice were already admitted into tertiary institutions and were attempting to manipulate the system.
As part of preparations for the 2026 UTME, JAMB has also carried out nationwide accreditation of 848 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres. The move is aimed at improving security, ensuring transparency, and maintaining the integrity of the examination process.
