The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a new policy requiring all candidates registering for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to declare their current admission status, indicating whether they are already enrolled in any tertiary institution.
According to the Board, the directive is a key part of its renewed efforts to combat impersonation and examination malpractice, issues that intensified during the 2025 UTME cycle.
Findings from JAMB’s 2025 UTME Infraction Report revealed a troubling pattern — over 90% of candidates implicated in various forms of malpractice were existing students of tertiary institutions who attempted to exploit the system for fraudulent purposes, including multiple admissions and identity manipulation.
In a statement, JAMB emphasized that the new measure is designed to enhance transparency and accountability within Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process.
“Beginning with the 2026 UTME registration, every candidate will be required to make a clear declaration regarding their current studentship status,” the Board stated.
The declaration, JAMB added, will become a compulsory component of the registration process, allowing the Board to cross-check candidates’ information with institutions’ enrollment databases.
Education analysts have lauded the move as a necessary reform to safeguard the integrity of the examination system, though they caution that proper data integration and verification mechanisms will be essential to ensure effective implementation.
The new rule is expected to take effect when registration for the 2026 UTME opens in early 2026.
— Ranks Africa Education Desk
