By Obinna Uballa
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced a new rule mandating all prospective candidates for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to declare their current admission status during registration.
According to the latest JAMB Bulletin, the new directive means every candidate must state clearly whether they are already enrolled in any tertiary institution before completing their registration.
The board said the policy is part of renewed efforts to curb impersonation, fraud, and other examination malpractices that have plagued the admission process.
JAMB revealed that findings from the 2025 UTME infraction report showed that over 90 per cent of candidates involved in examination malpractice were already students of tertiary institutions attempting to game the system for personal or financial gain.
“Beginning from the 2026 UTME registration, every candidate will be required to make a clear declaration regarding their student status,” the bulletin stated.
The board warned that anyone who fails to disclose the information or provides false details will face severe sanctions, including withdrawal of previous admissions, cancellation of current registration, and possible prosecution.
It emphasised that the measure is a proactive step to safeguard the credibility of Nigeria’s admission process and ensure that the UTME remains strictly for genuine fresh applicants seeking entry into tertiary institutions.
“This directive serves as early notice to all prospective candidates and the general public that JAMB will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the integrity of the admission process,” the statement added.
The board further stressed that the UTME was designed primarily for fresh admission seekers, not students already admitted into higher institutions, warning that any violation of this rule would attract strict penalties.
