JAMB Lifts SIM Swap, Email Change Ban; Mandates Biometric Verification

In a major policy shift designed to alleviate the frustrations of countless students, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially lifted its long-standing prohibition on the swapping of candidates’ registered GSM numbers and the alteration of registered email addresses. The revised policy, which took effect on Monday, September 21, 2026, offers a lifeline to candidates who have previously been locked out of their profiles due to lost SIM cards or inaccessible email accounts.

For years, JAMB maintained a strict ban on credential changes, citing severe security vulnerabilities and the high risk of impersonation, profile hijacking, and admission fraud. However, the Board has now determined that advancements in digital infrastructure have made a secure reversal possible. According to a statement issued by JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the emergence of robust identity authentication and biometric verification systems has enabled the Board to review the policy without compromising the integrity of candidates’ academic records.

“The revised policy is part of our ongoing efforts to strike a delicate balance between tight data security and candidate-friendly service delivery,” Dr. Benjamin stated. “We must ensure that legitimate candidates do not suffer unnecessary, career-threatening setbacks in their pursuit of tertiary education admission simply because they lost access to a phone number or email address.”

While the new arrangement provides much-needed relief, JAMB has emphasized that the concession will operate under highly stringent authentication procedures. Crucially, the SIM swap and/or email change service will be available to each candidate **only once** throughout their JAMB lifecycle. This one-time limitation is specifically designed to deter serial fraudsters and prevent the unauthorized, repeated alteration of candidate records.

To access this service, candidates must navigate a comprehensive, seven-step verification process that blends digital transactions with physical, biometric validation. 

First, candidates are required to log into their JAMB e-Facility portal using their existing credentials, such as their registration number or profile code. From the dashboard, they must select the “SIM Swap/eMail Change Payment” option and remit the prescribed statutory fee. 

Following successful payment, the candidate cannot complete the process online. Instead, they are mandated to visit a designated JAMB Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre, specifically an Accredited Permanent or Provisional Registration Centre (PTC/PRC). At the centre, the candidate will access the dedicated SIM Swap/eMail Change Quicklink, enter their profile code or existing GSM number, and select “Fetch Details.”

The most critical phase of the process is the mandatory biometric verification, which cross-references the candidate’s live fingerprints with the biometric data captured during their initial UTME registration. Once identity is confirmed, the candidate can select the specific service required: GSM number update only, email address update only, or both. 

To finalize the request, the candidate must input the new GSM number and/or email address and upload a duly executed, scanned court affidavit attesting to the loss of the previous credentials. Upon clicking “Update,” the system processes the request, and a confirmation message is displayed upon successful completion.

JAMB has strongly urged candidates to utilize this facility strictly for genuine, verifiable cases. The Board issued a stern warning against patronizing unauthorised cybercafés or third-party agents who may exploit the process for extortion or data theft. All updates must be conducted personally by the candidate at accredited centres to ensure the chain of custody for their personal data remains intact.

This policy reversal marks a significant maturation in JAMB’s digital service delivery. By leveraging modern biometric safeguards, the Board has successfully transformed a former security liability into a controlled, candidate-centric solution. For the thousands of Nigerian students who have historically faced agonizing delays—or even missed admission cycles—due to lost communication credentials, this development represents a vital step toward a more resilient and empathetic educational administration.