By Nworisa Michael
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that undergraduates currently enrolled in tertiary institutions are permitted to register for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE), provided they formally declare their existing matriculation status.
The clarification was issued in a statement on Wednesday by JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, following what the Board described as widespread misrepresentation of its directives by individuals posing as education advocates.
According to JAMB, registering for UTME or Direct Entry while already admitted into another institution is not prohibited, but failure to disclose such status amounts to a violation of the Board’s regulations and could lead to serious consequences.
“For the avoidance of doubt and in line with our statutory mandate to prevent multiple matriculations, all candidates registering for the 2026 UTME/DE must disclose their matriculation status where applicable,” Benjamin stated.
He explained that once a candidate secures a new admission through UTME or Direct Entry, any previous admission automatically becomes invalid, stressing that Nigerian law does not permit a student to hold two admissions at the same time.
JAMB noted that the policy has become increasingly important following incidents where already-matriculated students were found to be involved in examination malpractice, including acting as hired test-takers for other candidates.
The Board warned that its systems are capable of detecting existing matriculation records, adding that candidates who fail to declare their status risk losing both their current admission and any new one obtained through the examination process.
JAMB urged candidates, parents and guardians to rely only on official guidelines and information released by the Board, cautioning against misleading interpretations circulating on social media and unofficial platforms.
The Board also reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of its examinations, announcing that registration for the 2026 UTME commenced on January 26. Only Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres equipped with remote monitoring facilities will be accredited.
In addition, JAMB reaffirmed its enforcement of the policy tagged “No Vision, No Registration, No UTME,” describing it as part of broader efforts to curb registration irregularities and strengthen public confidence in the examination process.