Abuja, November 3, 2025 — The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions to beware of institutions attempting to manipulate the admission process by persuading or pressuring candidates to change their preferred programmes through internal portals rather than the official JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
In a statement issued by the Office of the Registrar and signed by the Head of Media, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB expressed concern over reports that some institutions are using unethical means to convince highly ranked candidates on CAPS to switch from their preferred courses to less-subscribed ones.
The Board described the act as an attempt by such institutions to create space for their preferred candidates to climb the admission ranking order, thereby undermining the merit-based process designed to ensure fairness and transparency.
“The Board wishes to remind all candidates and institutions that all admission processes in Nigeria are conducted exclusively through CAPS — the platform created to ensure accountability, transparency, and equal opportunity in admission placements,” the statement read.
JAMB stressed that any admission activity or change of programme conducted outside CAPS is unauthorized, unethical, and detrimental to affected candidates. It further warned that institutions engaging in such “backdoor maneuvers” demonstrate an intent to deceive and shortchange candidates, and such practices will not be condoned.
The statement also cautioned that any candidate who proceeds with a programme change after being influenced or persuaded by an institution through its own portal will be deemed to have done so voluntarily. In such instances, JAMB said it would not be held responsible for the consequences of that decision.
According to JAMB, preliminary investigations have revealed that a university in the South-West and another in Abuja have been implicated in such unethical practices. The Board noted that it has initiated regulatory measures to curb the malpractice and protect candidates’ interests.
“Candidates are therefore urged to remain vigilant and conduct all admission-related activities strictly through the JAMB CAPS portal,” Dr. Benjamin stated.
He reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to ensuring that all qualified candidates are treated with fairness, equity, and transparency throughout the 2025 admission exercise and beyond.