Official Statement: JAMB Denies Undergraduates UTME 2026 Ban
JAMB Denies Undergraduates UTME 2026 Ban. As registration activities intensify nationwide, JAMB UTME 2026 has taken center stage following official clarification from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on widespread misinformation circulating online. The examination body has firmly denied claims that undergraduates are barred from registering for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, describing such reports as inaccurate and deliberately misleading.
The clarification was issued on Wednesday January 28, 2026, through the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin, in response to growing confusion among candidates seeking fresh admissions or academic transitions.
JAMB explained that students currently enrolled in tertiary institutions are not prohibited from sitting for either the UTME or Direct Entry examinations. What has changed is the enforcement of a compulsory disclosure requirement during registration. Any candidate who is already matriculated must openly declare their academic status to avoid administrative and legal conflicts that arise from holding more than one admission at the same time.
According to the Board, Nigerian education law does not permit simultaneous admissions. The disclosure policy is designed to uphold fairness by ensuring that admission opportunities are not unnecessarily locked away by individuals holding multiple offers. Once a candidate secures a new placement through JAMB UTME 2026, any previous admission automatically becomes invalid, thereby freeing up space for other qualified applicants within the system.
Beyond admission management, JAMB emphasized that the policy also strengthens examination integrity. Investigations have revealed that many individuals involved in impersonation and professional exam malpractice are existing undergraduates. Mandatory status declaration now allows the Board to track candidates more effectively and disrupt networks that exploit the examination process for fraudulent purposes.
To reinforce compliance, JAMB disclosed that its registration systems have been upgraded to automatically detect existing matriculation records using the National Identification Number. Candidates attempting to conceal their status face serious consequences, including cancellation of their 2026 UTME registration, loss of their current admission, and in severe cases, permanent disqualification from future JAMB examinations alongside possible legal action.
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With the registration window open until February 28, 2026, the Board advised candidates to depend only on verified information released through official channels. Undergraduates intending to change courses or institutions are expected to declare their status during profile creation at accredited Computer Based Test centers. Ensuring that NIN details align perfectly with institutional records is also critical to avoid biometric conflicts that could jeopardize registration.
JAMB further reaffirmed its commitment to a cashless registration process aimed at shielding candidates from extortion and unauthorized agents. With the approved 2026 UTME reading text, The Lekki Headmaster by Kabir Alabi Garba, already in circulation, the Board says its priority remains a transparent, secure, and credible examination exercise built on integrity rather than shortcuts.