The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a strong warning to tertiary institutions across Nigeria, cautioning them against pressuring candidates to alter their preferred programmes through unofficial or internal portals.
In a statement signed by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Board’s Head of Media, JAMB disclosed that it has received credible reports indicating that some institutions were attempting to manipulate the ongoing 2025 admission process by persuading highly-ranked candidates on the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) to switch from competitive courses to less-subscribed ones.
According to the Board, such unethical practices are aimed at creating space for less-qualified or “favoured” candidates to move up the merit list — a move JAMB described as a direct violation of the transparent, merit-driven framework established through CAPS.
“For institutions to engage in such backdoor manoeuvres clearly indicates an intent to deceive and shortchange candidates,” the statement read. “JAMB will not condone these infractions under any circumstances.”
JAMB emphasised that the CAPS platform remains the only legitimate and authorised channel for all admission-related activities in Nigeria. Introduced to uphold fairness, accountability, and transparency, the system ensures equal opportunity for every qualified candidate, regardless of their background or institutional preference.
The Board warned that any change of programme or offer of admission made outside CAPS is invalid, adding that such actions compromise the integrity of the process and could leave candidates stranded when they discover their admissions lack official recognition.
Preliminary investigations, JAMB revealed, have already implicated one university in the South-West and another in Abuja in this manipulative practice. Regulatory measures, it said, are already underway to sanction the erring institutions and protect candidates from further exploitation.
JAMB urged all candidates to ignore any communication from institutions requesting programme changes through unofficial channels, stressing that any subsequent modification made on CAPS after such influence would be deemed voluntary. The Board also stated that it will not be held responsible for the consequences of any such voluntary actions.
Reaffirming its stance, JAMB said all admission activities — including acceptance of offers, course changes, and transfer approvals — must strictly take place on CAPS. This ensures that each candidate’s admission is properly documented and verifiable nationwide.
The Board further appealed to parents and candidates to verify every admission-related message and report suspicious offers through official JAMB help channels. It reiterated that any admission not visible on CAPS is null and void.
In conclusion, JAMB assured the public of its unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary education admission process. It vowed to maintain a transparent, credible, and merit-based system while ensuring that erring institutions face appropriate sanctions.
