The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reviewed its policy on the swapping of candidates’ registered GSM numbers and changing of registered email addresses, approving a controlled process to assist candidates who have genuinely lost access to their SIM cards or email accounts.

Recall that the Board had previously barred SIM swapping and email changes as a security measure in response to the vulnerabilities associated with such changes at the time.

However, following the introduction of enhanced security measures, particularly stronger identity and biometric verification processes, the Board said it has reviewed the policy.

The Board in a statement said the new arrangement, which commences on Monday, September 21, 2026, will enable candidates who have lost their registered SIM numbers, particularly those unable to use such numbers for registration for subsequent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) exercises, as well as candidates whose registered email accounts can no longer be recovered, to update their details through a secure and controlled process.

The statement signed by the spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, stated that the initiative is aimed at reducing the hardship and trauma associated with the loss of access to candidates’ registered credentials and making the processes leading to tertiary education admission more seamless.

The Board, however, stressed that the concession is subject to strict authentication procedures designed to prevent impersonation, fraud and unauthorised alteration of candidates’ records, adding that the SIM swap and or email change service shall be available only once.

According to JAMB, the service is available only at JAMB Computer Based Test Professional Test Centres and Professional Registration Centres, including State Offices where applicable.

Candidates seeking the service are required to present the new GSM number and or email address as applicable and a duly executed court affidavit, scanned and ready for upload.

On the procedure, the Board explained that candidates are required to log into the e-facility profile using existing credentials, including the email address, registration number or profile code, select SIM Swap and email Change Payment from the menu and pay the prescribed fee, and thereafter proceed to the JAMB CBT centre and access the SIM Swap and email Change Quicklink.

The Board further explained that candidates are expected to enter their profile code or existing GSM number and click on fetch details, undergo biometric verification, select the required service which could be GSM number only, email address only or both GSM number and email address, enter the new GSM number and or email address and upload the scanned court affidavit, and then click update to complete the process, after which a confirmation message will be displayed upon successful completion.

JAMB urged candidates to use the service strictly for genuine cases and to patronise only designated JAMB CBT centres.

The reviewed policy, the Board said, reflects its commitment to combining strong data security with candidate-friendly service delivery, ensuring that genuine candidates are not unnecessarily disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reviewed its policy on the swapping of candidates’ registered GSM numbers and changing of registered email addresses, approving a controlled process to assist candidates who have genuinely lost access to their SIM cards or email accounts.

Recall that the Board had previously barred SIM swapping and email changes as a security measure in response to the vulnerabilities associated with such changes at the time.

However, following the introduction of enhanced security measures, particularly stronger identity and biometric verification processes, the Board said it has reviewed the policy.

The Board in a statement said the new arrangement, which commences on Monday, September 21, 2026, will enable candidates who have lost their registered SIM numbers, particularly those unable to use such numbers for registration for subsequent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) exercises, as well as candidates whose registered email accounts can no longer be recovered, to update their details through a secure and controlled process.

The statement signed by the spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, stated that the initiative is aimed at reducing the hardship and trauma associated with the loss of access to candidates’ registered credentials and making the processes leading to tertiary education admission more seamless.

The Board, however, stressed that the concession is subject to strict authentication procedures designed to prevent impersonation, fraud and unauthorised alteration of candidates’ records, adding that the SIM swap and or email change service shall be available only once.

According to JAMB, the service is available only at JAMB Computer Based Test Professional Test Centres and Professional Registration Centres, including State Offices where applicable.

Candidates seeking the service are required to present the new GSM number and or email address as applicable and a duly executed court affidavit, scanned and ready for upload.

On the procedure, the Board explained that candidates are required to log into the e-facility profile using existing credentials, including the email address, registration number or profile code, select SIM Swap and email Change Payment from the menu and pay the prescribed fee, and thereafter proceed to the JAMB CBT centre and access the SIM Swap and email Change Quicklink.

The Board further explained that candidates are expected to enter their profile code or existing GSM number and click on fetch details, undergo biometric verification, select the required service which could be GSM number only, email address only or both GSM number and email address, enter the new GSM number and or email address and upload the scanned court affidavit, and then click update to complete the process, after which a confirmation message will be displayed upon successful completion.

JAMB urged candidates to use the service strictly for genuine cases and to patronise only designated JAMB CBT centres.

The reviewed policy, the Board said, reflects its commitment to combining strong data security with candidate-friendly service delivery, ensuring that genuine candidates are not unnecessarily disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control.