The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says undergraduates are eligible to register for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry, provided they declare their current matriculation status during registration.
The board made the clarification in a statement on Thursday by its Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said undergraduates were not barred from participating in the UTME or Direct Entry examinations, noting that the violation occurs only when a candidate fails to disclose an existing admission.
He explained that some individuals had misinterpreted sections of the 2026 UTME and Direct Entry advertisement, thereby creating unnecessary anxiety among candidates and parents.
According to him, such misrepresentations often emerge at the beginning of every registration exercise, usually by commentators who do not consult official guidelines.
The JAMB spokesman stressed that registering for UTME or Direct Entry while already enrolled in a tertiary institution does not contravene any regulation, as long as the candidate makes full disclosure.
“For record purposes and in line with JAMB’s mandate to prevent multiple matriculations, all candidates registering for the 2026 UTME and Direct Entry are required to declare their matriculation status where applicable,” he said.
Benjamin added that once a candidate secures a fresh admission, any previous admission automatically becomes invalid, as Nigerian law does not permit holding two admissions simultaneously.
He said the directive followed reports linking some already-matriculated students to examination malpractice, including impersonation and acting as hired test takers.
According to him, compulsory disclosure enables the board to take prompt action when such cases are identified.
While noting that JAMB’s digital systems can trace previous matriculation records, he warned that candidates who conceal their status risk losing both their existing admission and any new one obtained.
He urged candidates and parents to rely only on official JAMB publications and disregard misleading information circulating online.
Benjamin reaffirmed the board’s commitment to protecting the integrity of its examinations.
JAMB had earlier announced that registration for the 2026 UTME commenced on Jan. 26.
It also said only Computer-Based Test centres with facilities for remote monitoring would be accredited for the exercise, under its policy of “No Vision, No Registration, No UTME,” aimed at curbing irregularities and strengthening confidence in the examination process.
