Candidates enrolling for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) have received a new warning from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) that failing to declare an existing admission could result in the loss of both previous and new offers.

In a formal statement issued on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, and signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB responded to online rumours that students who have already been accepted into postsecondary schools are not permitted to register for DE or UTME.

Such allegations are deceptive and untrue, according to the Board.

According to JAMB, students may register for the 2026 UTME or Direct Entry if they are now enrolled in universities, polytechnics, or institutes of education.

During the registration process, individuals must, however, explicitly state whether they are currently enrolled or matriculated.

The Board clarified that while it is not illegal to register for UTME or DE as a student who has already been admitted, it is against admission rules to conceal an existing admission.

JAMB emphasised that holding two admissions concurrently is prohibited by Nigerian law because doing so jeopardises the integrity of the educational system.

It also stated that any prior admissions are immediately void once a candidate obtains a new admission in the current UTME cycle.

Candidates who conceal their admission status, however, run the danger of losing both offers if JAMB’s verification algorithms find out.

“The law is clear that no candidate is allowed to hold two admissions concurrently,” the Board declared, adding that its database can easily uncover secret admissions.

Additionally, JAMB urged applicants to rely solely on official guidelines and verified information, criticising self-described education activists who disseminate false information online for engagement.

Registration for the 2026 UTME and Direct Entry will open on January 26, 2026, and end on February 28, 2026.

In order to prevent mistakes that can have an impact on their academic future, prospective candidates were urged to properly fulfil all registration requirements.

Declaring an existing admission does not automatically result in disqualification, JAMB reaffirmed; rather, it guarantees a seamless and legal transition once a new admission is obtained.

Kindly Share

Related Video