Nigeria’s admissions authority, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has moved to clear confusion surrounding the registration process for the 2026 UTME and Direct Entry examinations, following widespread claims that already-admitted students were barred from applying.
In a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said the allegation was false and based on a deliberate misreading of the board’s published guidelines.
Benjamin explained that the 2026 UTME and Direct Entry advertisement requires applicants to indicate whether they are already matriculated, a policy aimed at eliminating the problem of candidates holding multiple admissions. He emphasised that being a current student does not disqualify anyone from registering for the examinations.
“What is unlawful,” he clarified, “is the failure to declare an existing admission.” Such non-disclosure, he said, is an offence under the laws regulating tertiary admissions in Nigeria.
The spokesperson noted that disclosure ensures that once a candidate gains a new placement, any earlier admission is automatically cancelled, in line with regulations that prohibit simultaneous admissions.
Benjamin added that the policy has been effective in curbing the activities of students who repeatedly sit entrance examinations while remaining enrolled elsewhere. He warned that candidates found to have concealed their status could lose both their old and new admissions.
JAMB concluded by advising the public to ignore misleading narratives circulated on social media and to consult official sources for accurate information on admission procedures.
