Candidates who have lost access to the telephone numbers or email addresses linked to their Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) profiles can now update their details, following the Board’s decision to lift its long-standing restriction on SIM swaps and email changes.
The new arrangement, which takes effect from Monday, September 21, 2026, allows affected candidates to change their registered GSM number, email address, or both, subject to strict verification procedures.
The decision was contained in a statement issued by JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
JAMB had previously prohibited the swapping of registered SIM cards and changes to candidates’ registered email addresses because of security vulnerabilities associated with altering candidates’ credentials. The Board said the emergence of stronger identity authentication and biometric verification systems had now made it possible to review the restriction while safeguarding the integrity of candidates’ records
According to the Board, the revised policy is expected to ease the difficulties experienced by candidates who lose access to their registered telephone numbers or are unable to recover their email accounts, particularly when such candidates need their credentials for subsequent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) processes.
JAMB said the measure was introduced to ensure that genuine candidates are not disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control, while maintaining safeguards against impersonation, fraud and unauthorised alterations of candidate records.
However, the Board stressed that the facility comes with important restrictions. The SIM swap and/or email change service can only be accessed once by each candidate.
The service is also restricted to designated JAMB Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, including State Offices where applicable.
Candidates wishing to use the facility are required to provide their new GSM number and/or email address, depending on the service required. They must also have a duly executed court affidavit, scanned and ready for upload as part of the verification process.
JAMB has prescribed a seven-step procedure for candidates seeking to update their details.
First, the candidate must log into the JAMB e-Facility profile using the existing credentials, which may include the registered email address, registration number or profile code.
The candidate is then required to select “SIM Swap/eMail Change Payment” from the menu and pay the prescribed fee.
After making the payment, the candidate must proceed to a designated JAMB CBT (PTC/PRC) Centre and access the “SIM Swap/eMail Change Quick Link.”
The candidate will then enter the profile code or existing GSM number and select “Fetch Details.”
This will be followed by biometric verification. After successful verification, the candidate will select the particular service required — GSM number only, email address only, or both GSM number and email address.
The candidate will subsequently enter the new GSM number and/or email address and upload the scanned court affidavit before clicking “Update” to complete the process.
A confirmation message will be displayed once the update has been successfully completed.
JAMB urged candidates to use the facility strictly for genuine cases and warned them against patronising unauthorised outlets.
The Board said the reviewed policy was designed to strike a balance between protecting candidates’ personal records through stronger security measures and providing a more accessible service for legitimate candidates pursuing admission into tertiary institutions
