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Allow candidates to update lost numbers, email addresses
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a review of its policy on the swapping of candidates’ registered phone numbers and changing of registered email addresses ahead of the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration exercise.
The new policy allows candidates who have genuinely lost access to their credentials to update them through a controlled process.
The Board said the reviewed policy, which takes effect from Monday, 21 September 2026, was introduced following the deployment of enhanced security measures, particularly stronger identity and biometric verification processes.
JAMB had previously prohibited SIM swapping and email changes as part of measures to protect candidates’ records against fraud and other security vulnerabilities.
However, in a statement signed by its Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocols, Dr Fabian Benjamin, the Board said the new arrangement would assist candidates who had lost access to their registered phone numbers or email accounts.
According to the statement, the concession is particularly important for candidates who are unable to use their previously registered phone numbers for subsequent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) exercises or whose registered email accounts can no longer be recovered.
The Board said the initiative was designed to reduce the hardship associated with loss of access to registered credentials and make processes leading to tertiary education admission more seamless.
It, however, stressed that the service would be subject to strict authentication procedures aimed at preventing impersonation, fraud and unauthorised alterations to candidates’ records.
JAMB said the SIM swap and/or email change service would be available only once to each candidate.
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“The service is available at JAMB Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, including Professional Test Centres (PTC), Professional Registration Centres (PRC) and State Offices where applicable.
“Candidates seeking to use the service are required to provide the new phone number and/or email address, as applicable, as well as a duly executed court affidavit, scanned and ready for upload.
“Under the procedure, candidates are expected to log into their e-Facility profiles using their existing credentials, including their email address, registration number or profile code.
“They are then required to select SIM Swap/Email Change Payment from the menu and pay the prescribed fee before proceeding to a designated JAMB CBT (PTC/PRC) centre.
“At the centre, candidates would access the SIM Swap/Email Change Quicklink, enter their profile code or existing GSM number and click Fetch Details.
“The candidate would subsequently undergo biometric verification before selecting the required service, phone number only, email address only, or both phone number and email address.
“The new phone number and/or email address would then be entered, while the scanned court affidavit would be uploaded before the candidate clicks ‘Update’ to complete the process. Afterwards, a confirmation message would be displayed upon successful completion of the transaction,” JAMB explained.
The Board advised candidates to use the service strictly for genuine cases and patronise only designated JAMB CBT (PTC/PRC) centres.
It said the reviewed policy reflected its commitment to balancing strong data security with candidate-friendly service delivery, particularly by ensuring that genuine candidates are not unnecessarily disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control.
