No More Double Admissions: JAMB Makes Major Announcement for 2026 UTME Candidates

In a surprising but decisive move aimed at sanitizing Nigeria’s tertiary education system, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a new policy that will take effect from the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration exercise. According to the announcement, all candidates registering for the 2026 UTME must now declare their current admission status, specifically indicating whether they are already admitted into any tertiary institution in Nigeria. The directive, which was officially made public by JAMB through its spokesperson, has sent ripples across the education community as stakeholders begin to assess its potential implications on students, institutions, and the nation’s admission process at large.

The new rule is part of JAMB’s continuous efforts to eliminate cases of multiple admissions, impersonation, and academic fraud that have plagued the system for years. By requiring candidates to declare their admission status, the board aims to bring transparency and accountability into the admissions process. According to JAMB, many candidates currently enrolled in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education still apply for UTME each year without officially withdrawing from their previous institutions or processing a proper transfer of admission. This has not only created confusion in institutional record-keeping but also led to situations where one candidate holds multiple admission letters across different schools.

In its statement, JAMB emphasized that beginning from the 2026 registration cycle, any candidate who fails to declare their current status or who provides false information about their existing admission would face strict penalties, including disqualification from the examination or the nullification of their admission offers. The board noted that it has developed an integrated data verification system in collaboration with tertiary institutions to confirm the authenticity of each candidate’s admission claim. The system, once fully deployed, will automatically flag candidates who attempt to register for UTME while already having an active matriculation number with any accredited institution.

Officials within JAMB have explained that the decision was not made hastily but came after careful review of recurring challenges in the nation’s admission process. It was discovered that a significant number of UTME candidates each year are actually already students in various institutions, seeking to switch schools without following the official procedures. Some are attempting to gain fresh admissions into more prestigious universities, while others seek better courses after being dissatisfied with their initial placements. However, many of these candidates bypass the proper transfer processes, leading to data duplication, delayed results, and administrative bottlenecks in universities and polytechnics.

Education analysts believe that JAMB’s new rule could mark a turning point in the management of tertiary admissions in Nigeria. By compelling candidates to declare their admission status upfront, the board is ensuring that institutions admit only genuine, eligible students. Furthermore, the new system will help in tracking student mobility between institutions and prevent the abuse of the central admission processing system (CAPS). CAPS, which was introduced to digitize and streamline the admission process, has faced challenges due to candidates who manipulate the system to obtain multiple admission offers simultaneously.

Reacting to the announcement, some university administrators have welcomed the move, describing it as long overdue. According to them, JAMB’s policy will bring sanity to the admission process and help schools plan better. They noted that several universities have been facing cases where students abandon their programs midway without formally withdrawing, only for the same students to appear in another institution’s admission list. This, they said, not only affects record accuracy but also disrupts course planning, hostel allocations, and national matriculation numbering. The new system, they believe, will ensure that students take responsibility for their choices and follow due process when changing institutions or courses.

However, while some stakeholders have praised the policy, others have raised concerns about its timing and potential impact on candidates who may wish to transfer legally from one school to another. Some education advocates argue that the system should also be flexible enough to accommodate students who genuinely wish to switch institutions due to reasons beyond their control, such as accreditation issues, poor learning conditions, or personal circumstances. They called on JAMB to ensure that a seamless transfer process is clearly outlined so that students who follow the proper channels are not punished or discouraged.

Students themselves have expressed mixed reactions to the development. Some welcomed the idea, saying it will promote transparency and reduce cheating, while others described it as another bureaucratic hurdle that could complicate the already stressful process of gaining admission. A few candidates took to social media to express fears that the policy might delay admission timelines or restrict them from reapplying for a preferred course after realizing they made a wrong choice in their initial application. In response, JAMB has reassured candidates that the new system is not meant to restrict opportunities but to ensure a fair, organized, and accountable admission environment for all.

The board also hinted that the new declaration requirement will be incorporated into the UTME registration portal, meaning that candidates will be required to tick a box confirming whether or not they are currently enrolled in any institution. Those who indicate “yes” will be prompted to provide details of their current institution, matriculation number, and program of study. This data will be automatically cross-checked with the central admissions database to verify authenticity. Any discrepancies will trigger an alert for further investigation before the registration is approved.

Experts say the move could also help the government gather more accurate statistics on student enrollment across tertiary institutions. With reliable data, policy decisions regarding funding, capacity expansion, and educational planning could be better informed. Nigeria’s higher education system has long struggled with issues of data inconsistency, making it difficult to track student progression, graduation rates, and dropouts. By linking admission and enrollment data in real-time, JAMB may finally be creating a more unified and transparent system.

As preparations for the 2026 UTME begin, this announcement is expected to significantly change how candidates approach registration. It serves as a strong reminder that honesty and accountability will now be core requirements in the process. For those who wish to change schools or courses, the onus will now be on them to do so through proper channels — not through reapplying under false pretenses. The education community will be watching closely to see how effectively JAMB implements this new rule and whether it will indeed reduce the long-standing irregularities that have marred Nigeria’s admission process.

For now, one thing is clear: the era of double admissions and hidden enrollment may be coming to an end. JAMB’s latest directive signals a bold attempt to restore integrity to the country’s tertiary education system. Whether welcomed or resisted, the policy marks another chapter in the board’s evolving quest to ensure that every student’s academic journey begins on a foundation of truth and transparency.