JAMB warns 2026 UTME candidates over non-disclosure of prior admission

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned College candidates registering for the 2026 UTME that failing to reveal any present admission may outcome within the forfeiture of each provides.

The announcement was contained in an announcement issued on Monday, January 28, 2026, by Fabian Benjamin, Ph.D, JP, Public Communication Advisor to JAMB.

That is coming amid false narratives circulating on-line relating to candidates’ matriculation standing and compliance obligations.

What JAMB stated 

In response to JAMB, in keeping with its statutory mandate to forestall a number of matriculations, all candidates registering for the 2026 UTME/DE are required to disclose their matriculation standing the place relevant.

“For the avoidance of doubt and for file functions, and in keeping with its statutory mandate to forestall a number of matriculations, the Board directed that every one candidates registering for the 2026 UTME/DE should disclose their matriculation standing, the place relevant,” they stated

• The Board pressured that it’s not an offence for a candidate to register for UTME or DE whereas nonetheless enrolled in an establishment. Nevertheless, non-disclosure of such standing is taken into account an offence.
• Nevertheless, JAMB defined that disclosure means any earlier admission robotically ceases as soon as a candidate secures a brand new admission by means of the present registration cycle.

“Disclosure merely implies that as soon as a candidate secures admission by means of the most recent registration, the previous admission robotically ceases to subsist. 

“The legislation is express that no candidate is permitted to carry two admissions concurrently,” they stated

• The Board added that though its methods can detect prior matriculation, candidates who fail to disclose their standing threat dropping each alternatives.

Backstory 

Some posts circulating on social media claimed that undergraduate college students had been banned from registering for the 2026 UTME and Direct Entry examinations, suggesting they might not sit the exams whereas nonetheless enrolled in a tertiary establishment.

• This narrative was shared broadly and generated confusion amongst candidates and oldsters about eligibility.
• JAMB described these claims as misrepresentations of its official registration directives being propagated by some unscrupulous self-styled training advocates for parochial pursuits
• The Board famous that such people routinely emerge initially of each registration cycle and rush to social media with inaccurate claims to draw consideration.

What it’s best to know 

In November final 12 months, the examination board launched the obligatory admission standing disclosure for 2026 UTME candidates to forestall impersonation and examination malpractice.

• Findings from JAMB’s 2025 UTME infraction experiences confirmed that many candidates concerned in malpractice had been already enrolled in tertiary establishments and tried to control the system for unfair benefit
• As a part of the preparatory strikes for the 2026 UTME, they performed a nationwide accreditation of 848 CBT centres to enhance safety, cut back irregularities and transparency within the examination system.