For candidates who have ever lost the phone number or email address linked to their JAMB profile, a major obstacle in accessing their records may have just been removed.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has relaxed its restrictions on changing registered GSM numbers and email addresses, opening a controlled pathway for candidates who can no longer access the contact details attached to their profiles.
The revised policy takes effect from Monday, September 21, 2026, according to a statement by JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Dr Fabian Benjamin. JAMB’s official website also lists a bulletin dated September 21, 2026.
For years, JAMB has treated a candidate’s registered phone number as a critical identifier. Its published guidance states that candidates are expected to use a unique SIM for their profiles and retain the same number for subsequent transactions.
But the reality is that phone numbers get lost, SIM cards become inaccessible, email accounts are forgotten or compromised, and candidates can find themselves effectively locked out of important admission-related processes.
JAMB’s latest decision is aimed at addressing those genuine cases without opening the door to unauthorised alterations of candidates’ records.
Why JAMB Changed the Policy
The Board said improvements in identity authentication and biometric verification have strengthened its ability to distinguish genuine candidates from people attempting to impersonate them.
Under the revised arrangement, candidates will not simply be allowed to change their details online.
Instead, the process will involve identity verification at designated JAMB Computer-Based Test centres, including applicable State Offices.
Candidates will also be required to provide the new GSM number and/or email address they want linked to their profile.
A duly executed court affidavit, scanned and ready for upload, is also required.
The restrictions remain strict: each candidate can use the SIM swap and/or email change facility only once.
How to Change Your JAMB SIM or Email
JAMB has outlined a controlled process for candidates who genuinely need to recover access to their profiles.
1: Log into your JAMB e-Facility profile using your existing credentials, including your email address, registration number or profile code.
2: Select “SIM Swap/eMail Change Payment” from the available menu and make the prescribed payment.
3: Visit a designated JAMB CBT (PTC/PRC) Centre and access the SIM Swap/eMail Change Quicklink.
4: Enter your profile code or existing GSM number and select “Fetch Details.”
5: Complete the required biometric verification.
6: Select the service you need — GSM number only, email address only, or both — then enter the new details.
7: Upload the scanned court affidavit and click “Update” to complete the process.
A confirmation message should appear once the update has been successfully processed.
One Chance Means Candidates Must Be Careful
The relaxation does not mean candidates can freely modify the information attached to their JAMB profiles.
JAMB has emphasised that the service is designed for genuine cases and will remain subject to strict authentication.
That distinction is important because a candidate’s phone number and email address are not merely contact details. They are connected to access to JAMB services and subsequent transactions.
The Board has therefore warned candidates against using unauthorised agents or outlets to carry out the process.
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Candidates are expected to use only designated JAMB centres and follow the official procedure.
Relief, But Not a Free Pass
The policy change effectively attempts to solve a difficult problem: how can JAMB protect the integrity of candidates’ records while ensuring that a genuine candidate is not permanently disadvantaged simply because a phone number or email account has been lost?
JAMB’s answer is tighter identity verification rather than unrestricted access to profile changes.
For candidates affected by lost SIM cards or inaccessible email accounts, the new arrangement could provide a route back into their profiles.
But with the one-time restriction and biometric checks, the process also places a premium on getting the details right the first time.
The message from JAMB is therefore straightforward: lost access can now be addressed, but changing identity-linked records remains a tightly controlled process.