The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that candidates already enrolled in tertiary institutions may register for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE), but must disclose their matriculation status or risk forfeiting both admissions.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said misinformation by what he described as “self-styled education advocates” had misrepresented the Board’s guidelines, causing unnecessary confusion among candidates and parents.
Benjamin explained that while it is not an offence for a currently matriculated student to apply for UTME or DE, failure to declare such status violates JAMB regulations.
“For the avoidance of doubt and in line with its statutory mandate to prevent multiple matriculations, all candidates registering for the 2026 UTME/DE are required to disclose their matriculation status, where applicable,” he said.
According to him, disclosure simply means that once a candidate secures a new admission through the current registration, any previous admission automatically lapses, as no candidate is legally permitted to hold two admissions simultaneously.
He added that some individuals deliberately misinterpret JAMB guidelines each registration cycle to attract attention on social media, without properly understanding the rules.
Benjamin also revealed that recent investigations showed that some matriculated students had been involved in professional examination malpractice, stressing that mandatory disclosure helps the Board take swift action when such candidates are identified.
Although JAMB’s system can detect prior matriculation, he warned that candidates who fail to disclose their status risk losing both their existing admission and any new one secured through the 2026 UTME or DE.
He urged the public to rely on official JAMB guidelines and ignore distorted interpretations spread for selfish interests.
Meanwhile, JAMB confirmed that registration for the 2026 UTME began on January 26. The Board also reiterated that any Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre that cannot be monitored remotely will not be allowed to participate in the registration process.
The policy, tagged “No Vision, No Registration, No UTME,” is part of measures to curb registration irregularities and safeguard the integrity of its examinations.
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