The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has intensified its crackdown on examination malpractice ahead of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
To this end, it has issued stern warnings to candidates while also tightening surveillance measures across accredited centres nationwide.
JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, urged candidates to study diligently and earn their results honestly, cautioning that any form of malpractice could lead to prosecution.
He stressed that “there is no shortcut to success,” noting that several candidates are already facing legal consequences for offences such as impersonation and result falsification.
According to him, more than five candidates from the 2025 UTME have been convicted for various infractions, underscoring the Board’s zero-tolerance stance.
He added that advances in technology have made it increasingly difficult to cheat, as JAMB now deploys systems capable of detecting and apprehending offenders in real time.
The Board reiterated that it would not entertain pleas for leniency, emphasizing that adequate warnings have been issued.
Candidates were advised to focus on preparation and avoid actions that could jeopardize their academic future.
Functional surveillance cameras
In a related development, JAMB has directed all 989 accredited centres to ensure their surveillance cameras are fully functional and accessible from the Board’s control room at its headquarters.
Any centre that fails to meet this requirement risks having its activities declared invalid and forfeiting payment for services rendered.
The policy is aimed at ensuring transparency by enabling real-time monitoring of registration and examination processes nationwide.
During the recent registration exercise, over 150 centres were not visible from the control room, leading to denial of payment.
Although the Board initially considered cancelling all registrations conducted during the affected periods, it opted instead for additional scrutiny using enhanced remote monitoring systems.
JAMB maintained that continuous live surveillance remains a critical tool in detecting and preventing malpractice, reinforcing its commitment to upholding the integrity of its examination processes.
