The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a new policy requiring all 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates to declare their current admission status before registration. This means every applicant must state clearly whether they are already enrolled in any tertiary institution.
According to the Board, the directive is part of ongoing efforts to tackle impersonation and examination malpractice, which were prevalent during the 2025 UTME. Findings from JAMB’s 2025 UTME Infraction Report revealed that over 90 per cent of candidates involved in exam malpractice were already students of tertiary institutions attempting to manipulate the system for illegal advantages.
“Beginning with the 2026 UTME registration, every candidate will be required to make a clear declaration regarding their current studentship status,” JAMB stated.
The Board emphasized that the UTME is strictly for candidates seeking fresh admission into tertiary institutions. Students already admitted to higher institutions are not permitted to participate in the examination unless they fully disclose their existing admission status.
JAMB warned that any candidate who provides false information or fails to declare their current status will face severe sanctions, including withdrawal of previous admission, cancellation of registration, and possible prosecution under existing laws.
In addition, the Board reminded all prospective candidates that uploading their O’level results remains a compulsory requirement for admission into any tertiary institution in Nigeria. With the 2025 WAEC SSCE results already released, candidates are urged to upload them immediately, while those awaiting NECO results are expected to do so once they become available. JAMB reiterated that no candidate will be considered for admission without a verified O’level result on record.
The Board stressed that the new directive serves as an early warning to all candidates and the public that it will not tolerate any attempt to compromise the integrity of the admission process. It reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining transparency, fairness, and accountability in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Meanwhile, in response to the growing menace of examination malpractice, the Federal Government has approved a three-year ban for any student caught cheating in national examinations, including JAMB, WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed that the enforcement of this ban will be linked to candidates’ National Identification Numbers (NIN), making it nearly impossible for offenders to evade sanctions. Schools and Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres found aiding malpractice or operating as “miracle centres” also risk being derecognised for several years.
