The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that candidates currently enrolled in tertiary institutions are not barred from registering for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) or Direct Entry (DE), provided they disclose their matriculation status during registration.
In a statement by its Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the board says the clarification became necessary following what it described as a “misleading and unfortunate distortion” of its directives contained in an advertisement on the 2026 UTME/DE registration.
JAMB stresses that while registration by already matriculated candidates is not an offence, failure to disclose such status constitutes a violation.
Dr. Benjamin explains that all candidates are required to declare their matriculation status in line with the board’s statutory mandate to prevent multiple admissions. He notes that once a candidate secures a new admission through UTME or DE, any previous admission automatically lapses, as Nigerian law does not permit holding two admissions simultaneously.
He adds that the directive also aims to curb the use of matriculated students as professional examination takers, warning that JAMB’s system can detect prior matriculation. Candidates who fail to disclose their status risk losing both old and new admission opportunities, as the board urges candidates, parents, and guardians to rely only on official guidelines and avoid misinformation.