The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a new directive requiring all candidates registering for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to declare their current admission status.

According to the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, this directive is part of the Board’s efforts to curb impersonation and other forms of examination malpractice observed during the 2025 UTME cycle. Findings from the Board’s 2025 UTME Infraction Report revealed that over 90% of candidates involved in malpractice were already admitted students of various tertiary institutions.

To address this, JAMB has instructed its relevant departments to ensure that the 2026 UTME registration template includes a mandatory field requiring all candidates to provide a clear declaration of their current studentship status.

The Board emphasized that the UTME is designed primarily for fresh admission seekers and warned that any candidate who fails to disclose their admission status or provides false information will face severe sanctions, including:

Cancellation of registration.

Withdrawal of admission.

Possible prosecution in line with existing laws and regulations

JAMB assured the public that the admission process in Nigeria remains transparent, fair, and credible, reiterating its commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability in all its operations.

“The Board is committed to ensuring that the UTME is a level playing field for all candidates. We will not tolerate any form of malpractice or impersonation,” said Prof. Is-haq Oloyede.