The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is once again making headlines with its latest “comprehensive” registration guidelines for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). In what seems like a never-ending maze of rules and procedures, JAMB claims to be simplifying the process, but is it actually making things easier, or just more complicated?

According to JAMB’s official announcement,broadcast on their X (formerly Twitter) handle,the new guidelines are supposed to streamline registration and “minimize errors.” But for students, it looks like a long checklist of dos and don’ts, with the ever-present threat of disqualification looming at every step. 

First up, candidates are expected to enter personal details with the precision of a surgeon. JAMB insists on the correct National Identification Number (NIN), email address, and even A-Level results if you have them. Any mistake, and you’re flirting with disaster. 

To generate a profile code,which, by the way, is “permanent and cannot be altered”,you need to text your 11-digit NIN to either 55019 or 66019. Of course, if your NIMC data isn’t 100% accurate and up to date, that’s your problem. Candidates are left scrambling to double- and triple-check government records before even starting the registration.

Once you have your code, the journey continues to a JAMB office or a supposedly “approved” Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre. JAMB has warned yet again about buying E-PINs from unauthorized sources. The underlying message: trust no one but our list of banks and vendors, or risk falling victim to fraud.

During registration, every detail must be flawless. JAMB’s warning couldn’t be clearer: mismatched or wrong information could lead to “complications,” which is code for being banned from the exam. Candidates are practically begged to correct everything with the NIMC beforehand, as even a wrong date of birth or a typo in your name could spell doom.

JAMB has also made it clear that the GSM number and email address you use are one-and-done. If you don’t have a unique and working phone number and email, you can forget about registering. No changes, no sharing,one misstep and you’re out.

And if you run into biometric issues? Don’t expect help at CBT centres,only JAMB offices are allowed to step in. Candidates are told to make sure their passport photo and biometric data are “accurately captured” or risk being disqualified. The message: don’t leave the centre until everything is perfect, or you’ll pay the price later.

JAMB didn’t miss a chance to remind everyone of the many errors that can happen during profile code generation. An “Error 550/66019” just means you sent your SMS wrong. If your number is “Already Registered,” you’re back to hunting down old SIM cards or starting over. The list of potential pitfalls is long, and the solutions? Wait and try again later.

While JAMB claims these guidelines are all about transparency and fairness, the reality for candidates is a high-pressure environment where every misstep has severe consequences. The board’s “commitment to equal opportunity” feels more like a warning: follow the rules to the letter, or don’t bother showing up.

Candidates are being lectured to read the guidelines and start early,because, apparently, any delay or error is their fault. JAMB’s so-called proactive approach looks more like a laundry list of bureaucratic hurdles.