JAMB releases guidelines for 2026 UTME registration, warns candidates on NIN, biometrics

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released guidelines for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration.

JAMB, in a statement shared on X on Sunday, December 7, 2025, noted that candidates must ensure their details on the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) platform match those on their academic records, warning that mismatched data could hinder successful registration.

According to the examination body, candidates are required to generate their profile codes by sending NIN followed by a space and their 11-digit National Identification Number to 55019 or 66019.

The board noted that once a profile code is generated, it cannot be changed, as the candidate’s biodata will be automatically pulled from NIMC.

JAMB also urged candidates to purchase their e-PINs only from authorised channels, including banks, online platforms, or accredited vendors at registration centres.

Candidates were urged to ensure they receive the correct registration template and verify all details before final submission.

JAMB listed several important tips to guide candidates, advising them to complete any necessary corrections — such as name, date of birth, gender, or state of origin — at NIMC before beginning their UTME registration.

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It further stressed that GSM numbers and email addresses used during registration are unique identifiers and cannot be changed or shared.

JAMB cautioned that applicants experiencing biometric issues should report to the nearest JAMB office rather than allow any CBT centre to forcefully complete their registration.

The Board also emphasised the use of dual screens at centres to allow candidates confirm that their photographs and biometrics are captured accurately.

It also highlighted common challenges encountered during profile code generation, such as “record not found,” wrong command formats, previously used NINs linked to another GSM number, and temporary verification failures from NIMC.

Solutions were provided, including visiting NIMC for validation, resending commands correctly, retrieving the original SIM used, or simply retrying after some time.

With the registration window approaching, JAMB urged candidates to follow these guidelines closely to avoid delays, errors, or disqualification during the 2026 UTME enrollment process.

The Star