JAMB lifts ban on SIM swap and email changes for UTME candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has lifted its long-standing restriction on swapping registered GSM numbers and changing email addresses for candidates.

The policy shift, which took effect on Monday, September 21, 2026, comes as a major relief to thousands of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) applicants who have struggled to access their profiles after losing their original phone numbers or unrecoverable email accounts.

Previously, the examination board enforced a strict ban on these modifications to protect candidates from data theft, profile hijacking, and unauthorized alterations. However, the deployment of advanced biometric verification systems has given the board the security framework needed to reopen the service safely.

“The new arrangement will enable candidates who have lost access to their registered SIM numbers or unrecoverable email accounts to update their details through a secure and controlled process,” said Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols.

Mr. Benjamin emphasized that while the board wants to ease the hurdles facing students, the concession is tightly regulated to prevent fraud. Under the guidelines, the SIM swap and email change service is restricted to a one-time opportunity per candidate.

How candidates can update their details

To safeguard applicant records against malicious actors, JAMB has instituted a multi-step protocol that combines online payments with physical, biometric authentication at approved centres:

• Online Fee Payment: Candidates must log into their e-Facility profiles using their existing credentials (such as email, registration number, or profile code), select “SIM Swap/eMail Change Payment,” and pay the designated fee.
• Document Preparation: Applicants must secure a duly executed court affidavit, which must be scanned and ready for digital upload.
• Biometric Verification at CBT Centres: After payment, candidates must visit a designated JAMB Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre—including Professional Test Centres (PTC/PRC) or state offices—to complete mandatory biometric verification.
• Final Update: Once verified via the “SIM Swap/eMail Change Quicklink,” applicants can input their new contact details, upload the scanned affidavit, and submit the update.

JAMB has strongly cautioned applicants against patronizing unauthorized roadside cybercafés or third-party syndicates, warning that all changes must go through designated official channels to protect their educational records.