JAMB Flags Over 2,600 Illegal Admissions from Nigerian Institutions
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has raised serious concerns over the integrity of Nigeria’s admission process after flagging a total of 2,658 illegal admissions carried out during the 2024/2025 academic session.
The flagged entries cut across 17 universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, with some institutions reportedly granting admission to students outside the official Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
Institutions Involved in the Illegal Admissions
According to the data obtained from JAMB’s institutional analysis in Abuja, the breakdown of affected schools includes:
- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (1,847 cases)
- Osun State University (492 cases)
- Abubakar Tafari Ali Polytechnic (148 cases)
- Federal College of Animal and Health Production (66 cases)
- University of Calabar (28 cases)
- College of Education, Oro (12 cases)
- Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (12 cases)
- Redeemer’s University (5 cases)
- Pan-Atlantic University (5 cases)
- Nigerian Army College of Education (2 cases)
- Kwara State Polytechnic (1 case)
- Best Solution Polytechnic (1 case)
The revelation comes just as public universities wrapped up their 2025/2026 admission processes, raising concerns about adherence to proper admission guidelines in previous sessions.
Why JAMB Is Cracking Down on Illegal Admissions
JAMB has consistently warned institutions and candidates against engaging in admissions conducted outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). The CAPS platform, launched in 2017, was introduced to make admission processes transparent, fair, and merit-driven.
Under the CAPS system, every admission must be approved and uploaded by JAMB before being accepted by the candidate. Students are required to log into their JAMB e-facility portal to accept or reject their offers. However, some institutions have reportedly bypassed the process, admitting students directly without JAMB approval — a violation of the board’s rules.
“Any admission conducted outside CAPS is illegal, null, and void,” a JAMB official reiterated during the 2025 policy meeting in Abuja.
Government’s Position and Possible Sanctions
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, speaking at the 2025 JAMB Policy Meeting, emphasized that institutions found guilty of illegal admission practices would face severe penalties. These include the withdrawal of admission licenses, suspension of erring officials, and possible sanctions by regulatory agencies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The Minister stressed that no institution is above the law and warned candidates against accepting unapproved admissions that could later affect their eligibility for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
What This Means for Students
Students who gained admission through unauthorized means may face academic and legal consequences. JAMB has clarified that any admission not processed through CAPS will not be recognized, meaning such students might not receive valid admission letters or be mobilized for NYSC after graduation.
Candidates are advised to always confirm their admission status via the JAMB CAPS portal before proceeding with any registration or payment of school fees.
Expert Reactions
Education analysts have called for stricter supervision of tertiary institutions to prevent a recurrence. According to education consultant Mrs. Florence Ayodele, “The issue of illegal admissions has existed for years because of poor monitoring and desperation among students and institutions to fill spaces quickly. CAPS has made the process transparent, but enforcement remains weak.”
She advised JAMB and the Ministry of Education to strengthen collaborations with ICT departments of universities to ensure all admissions go through proper digital verification.
Way Forward
To restore confidence in Nigeria’s admission process, JAMB has pledged to continue auditing institutional activities and holding defaulters accountable. Institutions are also urged to upload all valid admissions promptly to CAPS and ensure compliance with admission guidelines.
For candidates still awaiting admission for the 2025/2026 session, JAMB encourages patience and regular checking of their CAPS dashboard rather than falling for shortcuts that may lead to disqualification.
Visit our Education section for more JAMB and admission updates, and check JAMB’s official website for official press releases.
