The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reviewed its policy on swapping candidates’ registered GSM numbers and changing registered email addresses.

The board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

Mr Benjamin said the new policy, which would take effect on September  21, would enable candidates who had genuinely lost access to their registered SIM cards or email accounts to update their details through a controlled process.

He said the board had previously prohibited SIM swapping and email changes as a security measure due to vulnerabilities associated with such changes.

He said the policy was reviewed after the introduction of enhanced security measures, particularly stronger identity and biometric verification processes.

“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,” he said.

Mr Benjamin said the initiative aimed to reduce the hardship of losing access to candidates’ registered credentials and make the processes leading to tertiary education admission more seamless.

He stressed that the concession was subject to strict authentication procedures designed to prevent impersonation, fraud and unauthorised alteration of candidates’ records.

“The SIM swap and/or email change service shall be available only once,” he said.

According to him, the service will be available only at the JAMB computer-based test (CBT) professional test centre (PTC)/professional registration centre (PRC), including state offices where applicable.

He said candidates seeking the service must present their new GSM number and/or email address, as applicable, as well as a duly executed court affidavit, scanned and ready for upload.

On the procedure, Mr Benjamin said candidates would first log into their e-Facility profile using their existing credentials, including their email address, registration number or profile code.

He said candidates would then select “SIM Swap/eMail Change Payment” from the menu and pay the prescribed fee.

“Candidates are to proceed to the JAMB CBT (PTC/PRC) centre and access the SIM Swap/eMail Change Quicklink.

“They are required to enter their Profile Code or existing GSM number and click ‘Fetch Details’,” he said.

Mr Benjamin said candidates would thereafter undergo biometric verification and select the required service, whether GSM number only, email address only, or both GSM number and email address.

He said candidates would then 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 upon successful completion,” he said.

The JAMB spokesperson advised candidates to use the service strictly for genuine cases and patronise only designated JAMB CBT (PTC/PRC) centres.

He said the reviewed policy reflected the board’s commitment to combining strong data security with candidate-friendly service delivery.

“This is to ensure that genuine candidates are not unnecessarily disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control,” he said. 

(NAN)