JAMB Terminates Special Registration Concession for Albinos in 2026 UTME
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially cancelled the special registration concession previously granted to candidates with albinism for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This significant policy shift comes as a direct response to widespread misuse of the concession, which was intended to provide necessary accommodations for visually impaired individuals.
Widespread Fraud Prompts Drastic Action
During a crucial meeting with education commissioners from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in Ikeja, Lagos, JAMB Registrar Professor Isaq Oloyede revealed startling statistics that led to this decision. The examination body discovered that over 7,000 candidates falsely claimed albinism status during last year's registration cycle, exploiting the special consideration meant for genuinely affected individuals.
Professor Oloyede explained the sophisticated methods employed by fraudulent applicants: "We have stopped some concessions we gave to albino candidates. This is because some are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to manipulate the registration process to look like they are albinos because of the consideration we gave them."
Registration Timeline and Additional Announcements
The 2026 UTME registration period has been scheduled to run from Monday, January 26 through Friday, February 28, 2026. Alongside this major policy change, JAMB has outlined comprehensive timelines for:
- Electronic PIN sales
- Mock examination dates
- Direct Entry application windows
The board has issued stern warnings to all accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers and prospective candidates regarding compliance with examination regulations. JAMB has promised enhanced monitoring and strict enforcement to maintain examination integrity throughout the registration and testing processes.
Call for Transparency from Faith-Based Institutions
In a related development, Professor Oloyede urged faith-based tertiary institutions to clearly declare their religious affiliations from the outset of the admission process. He emphasized that institutions pretending to be secular to attract applicants, only to impose religious rules after admission, engage in deceptive practices.
"Faith-based institutions should declare from the onset what they are, so that whoever applies there will know what he is going to meet there," the Registrar stated. "Some don't do that. They will pretend to be secular in nature but when students are now admitted, trouble will begin regarding religious instructions and injunctions."
Broader Context of JAMB's Regulatory Actions
This decision forms part of JAMB's ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria's tertiary education admission system. The board recently:
- Ordered universities to reverse irregular admissions that favored lower-ranked candidates
- Reinforced admission frameworks prioritizing merit, catchment areas, and educationally less developed states
- Warned against bypassing higher-ranked candidates in admission processes
For prospective 2026 UTME candidates, JAMB has encouraged accessing examination syllabi, brochures, and vital information through QR codes provided by the board. These resources offer comprehensive details about course combinations and required reading texts for various programs.
The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination serves as Nigeria's primary gateway to undergraduate programs across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. JAMB's latest measures reflect its commitment to maintaining fairness and integrity in this crucial national examination system.
