The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced a new process allowing candidates who have lost access to their registered telephone numbers or email addresses to update their details on the examination body’s portal.
The development is expected to provide relief to candidates who have been unable to access important JAMB services because they no longer have access to the GSM numbers or email accounts originally linked to their profiles.
JAMB announced the new procedure in a video published on its official X handle, explaining the steps candidates must follow to request a SIM swap or change their registered email address.
The board said the initiative was introduced in response to complaints from candidates who had lost access to their registered SIM cards or email accounts and consequently faced difficulties receiving examination-related notifications or accessing their JAMB profiles.
According to JAMB, candidates who have lost their SIM cards can now request to have their registered telephone numbers changed, while those who no longer have access to the email addresses attached to their JAMB profiles can also update them.
“Candidates who lost their SIM card can now swap it with a new one. And those who also lost access to their email addresses on the JAMB portal can now change to a new one,” the board said.
The new procedure, however, comes with verification requirements designed to establish the identity of the affected candidate and prevent unauthorised changes to examination records.
JAMB said candidates seeking the service must first obtain a court affidavit before beginning the process.
Obtain a Court Affidavit
The first step for an affected candidate is to visit a High Court and obtain an affidavit supporting the request for a SIM swap or email change.
The affidavit serves as part of the documentation required by JAMB to verify the circumstances surrounding the candidate’s loss of access to the registered contact details.
Candidates are expected to ensure that the information contained in the affidavit is accurate before proceeding with the application.
Log Into JAMB e-Facility
After obtaining the required court affidavit, the candidate should log into the JAMB e-Facility profile.
The e-Facility platform provides candidates with access to several JAMB services and examination-related information.
Candidates should use their existing login details to access the platform before proceeding to the section specifically created for the SIM swap or email change request.
Select the “Penalties” Option
Once logged into the JAMB e-Facility, candidates should navigate to the “Penalties” section of the menu.
Under this section, candidates will find the option relating to SIM replacement and email changes.
The board said candidates should select “SIM Swap/Email Change Penalty Payment” to initiate the process.
The terminology does not necessarily imply wrongdoing by the candidate. Rather, it identifies the specific service through which JAMB processes requests for changing registered contact information after a candidate has lost access to the original details.
Pay the Prescribed Fee
Candidates are required to pay the prescribed fee for the service through the JAMB portal.
The payment should be made through the designated channel provided on the e-Facility platform.
Candidates are advised to complete the payment process carefully and retain evidence of payment, as it may be required when they proceed to a JAMB office for the next stage of the process.
Visit a Designated JAMB Office
After making the required payment, candidates must proceed to the nearest designated JAMB office to complete the procedure.
JAMB specifically stated that the service is available only at designated JAMB Professional Test Centres (PTC) and Public Relations Centres (PRC), meaning candidates should not assume that every JAMB-related location can process the request.
At the designated centre, the candidate will be required to provide information that enables JAMB officials to confirm the identity and examination profile of the person making the request.
Provide Profile Code and Existing GSM Number
Candidates will be required to provide their JAMB profile code and existing GSM number when they visit the designated centre.
The requirement for the existing GSM number is part of the identification and verification process, particularly for candidates requesting a SIM swap.
Candidates should therefore ensure that they have the relevant details available before visiting the centre to avoid unnecessary delays.
Biometric Verification
Another important stage of the process is biometric verification.
The affected candidate will be required to undergo biometric verification at the designated JAMB centre.
This step is intended to confirm that the individual requesting the change is the legitimate owner of the examination profile.
Biometric verification is particularly important because changes to registered telephone numbers and email addresses could provide access to sensitive examination information and other services connected to a candidate’s JAMB profile.
Upload the Court Affidavit
Following the required verification, the candidate must also provide a scanned copy of the court affidavit.
JAMB said the scanned affidavit will be uploaded as part of the documentation required to complete the application.
Candidates should therefore ensure that the affidavit is properly scanned and that the relevant information is clear and readable.
Service Available for Genuine Cases
JAMB stressed that the new service is intended for candidates who have genuinely lost access to their registered GSM numbers or email addresses.
The procedure is therefore not designed as a routine option for candidates who simply want to change their contact information without a legitimate reason.
The board also stated that the service can be accessed only once.
This means candidates should exercise caution when submitting their replacement telephone number or new email address. They should make sure that the new details are active, accessible and correctly entered before completing the process.
The one-time provision also makes it important for candidates to protect their new contact details after the change has been approved.
The introduction of the service is significant because JAMB increasingly relies on candidates’ registered telephone numbers and email addresses to communicate examination-related information and provide access to its digital services.
Candidates who lose access to these details can therefore face difficulties receiving alerts, accessing their profiles and completing certain transactions.
The new procedure provides a formal mechanism for resolving such problems while maintaining identity and security checks.
JAMB has consequently advised affected candidates to follow the prescribed procedure rather than relying on unofficial intermediaries or attempting unauthorised changes to their profiles.
Candidates should also keep copies of their affidavit, payment evidence and other relevant documents until the process has been completed and the new contact information has been successfully reflected on their JAMB profiles.
With the new arrangement, candidates who have genuinely lost access to their registered SIM cards or email addresses now have an official route to update their details, subject to the board’s verification requirements and the one-time limitation on accessing the service.
