The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has lifted its restriction on the swapping of candidates’ registered GSM numbers and changing of registered email addresses, allowing those who have genuinely lost access to their credentials to update their records through a controlled verification process.
The revised arrangement took effect on Monday, September 21, 2026, with the Board saying the measure is intended to ease difficulties faced by candidates who can no longer access their registered SIM cards or email accounts.
According to JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Dr Fabian Benjamin, the policy review was made possible by stronger identity authentication and biometric verification systems designed to protect candidates’ records against impersonation, fraud and unauthorised alterations.
JAMB had previously prohibited SIM swapping and changes to registered email addresses because of security vulnerabilities associated with alterations to candidates’ credentials.
The Board, however, said improved authentication measures have now provided additional safeguards, enabling it to relax the restriction while maintaining the integrity of candidates’ records.
The development is expected to assist candidates who have lost their registered telephone numbers or access to their email accounts and are consequently unable to use the credentials for subsequent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and admission-related processes.
JAMB stressed that the concession is strictly for genuine cases and will operate under a controlled process. Significantly, the SIM swap and/or email change service can be accessed only once by each candidate.
Where Candidates Can Access the Service
The Board said candidates can access the facility exclusively at designated JAMB Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, including Professional Test Centres (PTC), Professional Registration Centres (PRC) and State Offices where applicable.
Candidates seeking to change their registered details are required to provide the new GSM number and/or email address, as applicable, as well as a duly executed court affidavit, which must be scanned and ready for upload.
JAMB has also warned candidates against patronising unauthorised persons or channels, stressed that the process is subject to strict identity and biometric verification.
Seven Steps to Change Registered Details
Under the procedure released by the Board, candidates are required to first log into their JAMB e-Facility profiles using their existing email addresses, registration numbers or profile codes.
They are then to select “SIM Swap/eMail Change Payment” from the menu and pay the prescribed fee.
After payment, candidates are required to proceed to a designated JAMB CBT (PTC/PRC) Centre and access the SIM Swap/eMail Change Quicklink.
The candidate will enter the profile code or existing GSM number and select “Fetch Details”.
The process will then require biometric verification. After successful verification, the candidate can select whether to change the GSM number, email address, or both.
The candidate will subsequently enter the new GSM number and/or email address, upload the scanned court affidavit and click “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 to deal only with designated centres.
The Board said the revised policy is aimed at balancing the security of candidates’ records with the need to ensure that genuine candidates are not disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control.
The move effectively give candidates who have lost access to their registered phone numbers or email accounts a formal route to restore access to their JAMB credentials, while retaining biometric and documentary safeguards against fraudulent changes.
