Abuja – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned tertiary institutions that admitting students outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) is “illegal” and may attract disciplinary action. The caution was issued by JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede at the board’s 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions, held on Monday in Abuja.
Prof. Oloyede noted that several institutions continue to issue admission letters to candidates who have not been cleared through CAPS, directly contravening Federal Government directives. “The continued use of non‑CAPS admissions undermines transparency and fairness in the university entry process,” he said, adding that the irregularities have led to situations where candidates with higher JAMB scores are denied entry while those with lower scores are admitted.
JAMB has already begun disciplinary proceedings against the offending institutions and will impose appropriate sanctions. A case involving eleven universities accused of illegal admissions is currently before a federal court. The matter has also been reviewed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Addressing rumors that candidates were being posted to examination centres outside their chosen towns, Oloyede clarified that students select their preferred examination towns during registration and are assigned only to centres within those locations. “Our investigations have found no evidence of a candidate being posted outside his or her selected town,” he affirmed.
The registrar reiterated that all admissions must be processed through CAPS and urged institutions to adhere strictly to the approved procedures. Failure to comply could result in further legal action and the revocation of admission offers. This stern reminder comes amid heightened scrutiny of Nigeria’s higher‑education admission system, with stakeholders calling for greater accountability and a level playing field for all applicants. JAMB’s enforcement of CAPS is seen as essential to restoring confidence in the merit‑based selection of candidates for tertiary study.
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