JAMB Lifts SIM, Email Change Ban, Gives Candidates New Directives

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has lifted its restriction on SIM swaps and email address changes, allowing candidates who have lost access to their registered contact details to update them under a controlled process.

The new policy took effect on Monday, September 21, 2026, and is targeted at candidates who can no longer access their registered phone numbers or recover their email accounts.

JAMB said the decision followed the introduction of enhanced identity and biometric verification measures designed to reduce the risk of fraud, impersonation and unauthorised changes to candidates’ records.

Under the revised arrangement, candidates can change their registered GSM number, email address or both. However, the service is available only once to each candidate and must be completed at designated JAMB Computer-Based Test (CBT) or Professional Test Centre (PTC)/Professional Registration Centre (PRC), including applicable state offices.

The Board said candidates seeking the service must provide their new phone number and/or email address, alongside a duly executed court affidavit that has been scanned and is ready for upload.

Applicants are also required to log into their JAMB e-facility profile, make payment for the service and visit an approved centre for biometric verification before the requested changes can be processed.

JAMB advised candidates to use the facility only when necessary and to ensure that they patronise officially designated centres rather than unauthorised agents.

The Board said the revised policy was introduced to prevent candidates who genuinely lose access to their registered credentials from being disadvantaged while maintaining safeguards against fraudulent alterations to examination records.

It also stressed that the SIM swap and email change facility could only be accessed once, making it important for candidates to provide accurate replacement details during the process.