The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has cautioned tertiary institutions in the country against persuading or coercing candidates to change their preferred programmes through internal portals, describing the practice as unethical and manipulative.
In a statement issued by its Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, and signed by the Head of Media, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the board disclosed that some institutions had been using their internal admission platforms to pressure top ranking candidates, especially those highly placed on the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), to switch to less competitive courses.
According to JAMB, such maneuvers are intended to create space for preferred candidates, thereby undermining the merit based admission process.
“This unethical practice is aimed at manipulating the admission ranking order and subverting the transparency and fairness that CAPS was established to ensure,” the statement said.
The board emphasised that all admission procedures in Nigeria must be conducted exclusively through CAPS, its centralised platform designed to promote transparency, accountability, and equal opportunity in admission placements.
JAMB warned that any change of programme or admission activity carried out outside CAPS is unauthorised and detrimental to candidates’ interests.
“Institutions engaging in such backdoor operations clearly intend to deceive and shortchange candidates. Such acts will not be condoned,” it stated.
The board further explained that any change of programme later effected on CAPS, after a candidate had been influenced through an institution’s internal system, would be regarded as voluntary, meaning JAMB would not be held responsible for the consequences.
Preliminary investigations, according to the statement, revealed that a university in the South West and another in Abuja were involved in such practices.
The board assured candidates that it was monitoring the situation closely and would take appropriate measures to address the infractions.
JAMB urged all candidates to remain vigilant and to carry out all admission related activities strictly through the official CAPS portal at www.jamb.gov.ng to avoid falling victim to fraudulent or unauthorised practices.
Reaffirming its commitment to fairness and integrity, the board said it would continue to protect the interests of all qualified candidates during the 2025 admission exercise and beyond.
