← Return to Admissions News Feed

Policy Published: February 3, 2026 • By Emmanuel Iweh

JAMB Issues Stern Warning to Undergraduates Retaking 2026 UTME Without Status Disclosure

JAMB Issues Stern Warning to Undergraduates Retaking 2026 UTME Without Status Disclosure

"University students wishing to switch courses via the 2026 UTME must disclose their current matriculation status or face the forfeiture of both their old and new admissions."

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) issued a critical policy clarification on February 3, 2026, regarding 'double matriculation.' The board stated that while it is not an offense for a currently enrolled undergraduate to register for the 2026 UTME—often done to switch courses or institutions—it is a mandatory requirement to disclose their current matriculation status during registration. Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, warned that failure to do so is a violation of the Board’s statutory mandate and will lead to the automatic cancellation of the new admission once detected. This warning is particularly relevant in February as many students in 100L or 200L are currently buying forms to escape 'unwanted' courses. The investigative depth of this issue reveals that JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) has been upgraded with a cross-referencing algorithm that flags NINs already associated with active matriculation numbers in its database. This means the 'hidden switch' strategy used by many students is no longer viable. For these candidates, the disclosure rule is a double-edged sword: while it keeps them within the legal framework, it also alerts their current institution of their intent to leave. In terms of admission chances, candidates who disclose their status are treated fairly, but they must be prepared to formally withdraw from their current school before a new admission letter can be fully processed on CAPS. For those seeking highly competitive courses like Law or Medicine, any blemish on their registration record, such as a non-disclosure flag, provides a valid reason for universities to bypass them in favor of 'fresh' candidates. This policy emphasizes transparency and is part of a broader effort to accurately track student enrollment data across Nigeria, ensuring that admission slots are not 'wasted' by students who occupy seats in two different institutions simultaneously.

Official Source Reference: https://punchng.com/university-students-must-declare-status-or-forfeit-utme-registration-jamb/

Calculate Your 2026 University Aggregate Score

Check your admission chances across UNILAG, LASU, UI, OAU, FUTA, UNIBEN, and 50+ Nigerian institutions with CampusAI's official formula engine.

Calculate Aggregate Score Now →

🎓 CampusAI Nigeria — You are viewing the static non-JavaScript version. Complete article content is available below. Enable JavaScript for interactive aggregate calculators and live chat.

Nigeria's #1 AI Admission Strategist

JAMB 2026 Aggregate Calculator & Admission Portal

Calculate your precise admission screening aggregate score for Nigerian federal, state, and private universities. Access verified institutional cutoff marks for UNILAG, UI, LASU, OAU, UNIBEN, FUTA, and ABU, check compulsory JAMB subject combinations, and forecast your admission probability with CampusAI.

Core Interactive Tools & Portals

How Nigerian University Aggregate Scores Are Calculated

Most Nigerian universities determine admission eligibility using a weighted aggregate formula combining your JAMB UTME score (scaled out of 50%), Post-UTME screening score (scaled out of 30%), and best 5 O-Level SSCE grades (scaled out of 20%). For instance, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) uses a strict 50:30:20 ratio. Other institutions such as Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) use a 50:50 ratio between JAMB and Post-UTME.

CampusAI automates these institutional formulas instantly while validating your mandatory subject combinations against official JAMB brochure rules to prevent candidate disqualification.