The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced a controlled process allowing candidates who have lost access to their registered phone numbers or email addresses to update their contact details.
The revised arrangement, which commenced on Monday, September 21, 2026, is intended to assist candidates who can no longer access the SIM cards or email accounts linked to their JAMB profiles, including those who need their details for subsequent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration.
The Board had previously restricted SIM swaps and changes to registered email addresses because of security concerns. However, it said enhanced identity authentication and biometric verification measures had enabled it to review the policy and introduce a controlled update process.
Under the new arrangement, candidates with genuine cases can request a change to their registered GSM number, email address or both. The service is available only at designated JAMB centres, including Professional Test Centres (PTCs), Professional Registration Centres (PRCs) and State Offices where applicable.
Candidates must undergo identity and biometric verification before their records can be updated. The Board has also limited the service to a one-time update, making it important for applicants to ensure that the new phone number or email address they provide is accurate, active and accessible.
JAMB advised candidates to use only its designated centres and authorised channels when seeking assistance, rather than relying on intermediaries or unofficial contacts.
The change is significant for candidates whose original SIM cards have been lost, damaged or become inaccessible, as well as those who can no longer recover the email accounts associated with their profiles. Without access to those details, affected candidates may encounter difficulties receiving communications or completing later admission-related processes.
JAMB’s existing guidance stresses that a candidate’s registered phone number serves as a unique identifier for transactions with the Board. Its published registration information also advises candidates to keep their registered contact details accessible and to use the same number for relevant future processes.
Candidates who require the new service should therefore confirm the applicable procedure and centre arrangements directly with JAMB before visiting. The Board provides a support system for complaints and enquiries, alongside contact details for its national and state offices.
The policy review offers a route for candidates with genuine access problems to regularise their records, while retaining identity checks intended to protect candidate profiles from impersonation and unauthorised changes. Because the update is permitted only once, candidates are advised to carefully verify their replacement details before submitting a request.
