The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that many matriculated students were involved in examination malpractice as professional examination takers during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

It explained that requiring candidates to declare their matriculation status during registration for this year’s UTME would help speed up the process of taking necessary action whenever such individuals are caught.

JAMB spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, stated this in a statement on Wednesday.

“Recent findings indicate that many matriculated students are engaged as professional examination takers. Mandatory disclosure, therefore, expedites appropriate action whenever such candidates are apprehended,” Dr Benjamin said.

The statement cautioned candidates and the general public against what it described as deliberate misrepresentation of its directives for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry (UTME/DE) registration.

JAMB said its attention had been drawn to misleading interpretations of portions of the 2026 UTME/DE advertisement, allegedly being circulated by some self-styled education advocates for selfish and parochial interests.Clarifying the issue, Dr Benjamin explained that, in line with its statutory mandate to prevent multiple admissions, all candidates registering for the 2026 UTME/DE are required to disclose their matriculation status where applicable. He stressed that registering for the UTME/DE while already enrolled in a tertiary institution is not an offence, but failure to disclose such status constitutes a violation.

According to him, disclosure implies that once a candidate secures a new admission through the latest UTME/DE process, any previous admission automatically lapses, as the law does not permit a candidate to hold two admissions at the same time.

While JAMB noted that its system can detect prior matriculation, it warned that candidates who fail to disclose their status risk losing both their former and new admission opportunities.

The board urged candidates, parents, and other stakeholders to disregard distorted interpretations of its guidelines and rely solely on official information. It also advised the public to read JAMB’s instructions carefully and to be wary of individuals seeking to mislead for personal gain.