The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has confirmed that current university students are permitted to register for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry, provided they formally disclose their status.
In a statement by the board’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB addressed rumors that undergraduates were prohibited from the exercise.
Benjamin clarified that the board’s guidelines had been twisted by “self-appointed education advocates” seeking to cause confusion.
The board emphasized that while re-registering is legal, candidates must be transparent about their current enrollment.
“For record purposes and in line with its mandate to prevent multiple matriculations, all candidates registering for the 2026 UTME/DE are required to declare their matriculation status where applicable,” Benjamin stated.
He warned that holding two admissions simultaneously is illegal under Nigerian law, and that a new admission would automatically make a previous one “invalid.”
JAMB introduced this mandatory disclosure to tackle various irregularities, particularly since some matriculated students have been accused of participating in examination malpractice as “hired test takers.”
Benjamin noted that identifying such individuals allows the board to take “prompt action” when necessary.
Candidates who hide their current status face severe consequences, as JAMB’s digital systems can track existing records.
Benjamin cautioned that those who fail to comply “could lose both admissions.”
He encouraged the public to ignore online misinformation and stick to official publications.
The board also reminded the public that registration began on January 26 and highlighted a new security policy.
Only Computer-Based Test centres with remote monitoring facilities can host the exam under the “No Vision, No Registration, No UTME” initiative, which aims to “curb irregularities and strengthen confidence in the examination process.”
Join Informant Online WhatsApp Channel With Link Below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2
