ABUJA — The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reviewed its policy on the swapping of candidates’ registered phone numbers and the changing of registered email addresses ahead of the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration exercise.
The new policy, which takes effect on Monday, September 21, 2026, allows candidates who have genuinely lost access to their registered phone numbers or email accounts to update their credentials through a controlled and strictly authenticated process.
JAMB said the policy review followed the deployment of enhanced security measures, particularly stronger identity and biometric verification systems designed to protect candidates’ records from fraud, impersonation and unauthorised alterations.
The Board had previously prohibited SIM swapping and changes to registered email addresses as part of measures to safeguard candidates’ information.
However, in a statement signed by its Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocols, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB explained that the reviewed arrangement would provide relief to candidates who could no longer access their previously registered phone numbers or recover their registered email accounts.
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According to the Board, the concession is intended to reduce the difficulties candidates may encounter when attempting to participate in subsequent UTME exercises or access their JAMB profiles.
JAMB said the service would be available only once to each candidate and would be subject to strict authentication procedures.
The Board stated that candidates could access the service at designated JAMB Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, including Professional Test Centres (PTC), Professional Registration Centres (PRC) and applicable JAMB State Offices.
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Candidates seeking to change their registered phone number or email address are required to provide the new details and a duly executed court affidavit, which must be scanned and ready for upload.
How the Process Works
According to JAMB, candidates are required to:
- Log into their JAMB e-Facility profile using their existing credentials, including their email address, registration number or profile code.
- Select “SIM Swap/Email Change Payment” from the menu.
- Pay the prescribed fee.
- Proceed to a designated JAMB CBT, PTC or PRC centre.
- Access the SIM Swap/Email Change Quicklink at the centre.
- Enter their profile code or existing GSM number and select “Fetch Details.”
- Undergo biometric verification.
- Select the service required — phone number only, email address only, or both.
- Enter the new phone number and/or email address.
- Upload the scanned court affidavit.
- Click “Update” to complete the process.
A confirmation message will be displayed when the transaction has been successfully completed.
JAMB advised candidates to use the service strictly for genuine cases and warned them to patronize only designated JAMB centres.
The Board said the reviewed policy was designed to strike a balance between strong data security and candidate-friendly service delivery, ensuring that genuine candidates are not unnecessarily disadvantaged when they lose access to their registered credentials due to circumstances beyond their control.
The development comes ahead of the 2027 UTME registration exercise, with JAMB urging candidates to follow the approved procedures and avoid unauthorized agents or individuals claiming to offer shortcuts for changing their registration details.
