The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reviewed its policy on swapping candidates’ registered GSM numbers and changing registered email addresses, allowing candidates who have genuinely lost access to their SIM cards or email accounts to update their details through a controlled process.

The new arrangement, which takes effect from Monday, is designed to assist candidates who have lost access to their registered GSM numbers, particularly those unable to use the numbers for registration for subsequent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), as well as those whose registered email accounts can no longer be recovered.

The Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocols, JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, announced this in a statement on Monday.

The Board had previously restricted SIM swapping and email changes as part of measures to protect candidates’ records from fraud and other security vulnerabilities associated with such alterations.

Benjamin, however, said in the statement that the policy was reviewed following the introduction of enhanced security measures, particularly stronger identity and biometric verification processes.

Under the revised arrangement, candidates can request a GSM number swap, email address change, or both, subject to strict authentication procedures.

According to the Board, the concession is intended to reduce the hardship faced by candidates who lose access to their registered credentials and make the processes leading to tertiary education admission more seamless.

JAMB, however, warned that the service would be available only once to each candidate and would be subject to stringent verification designed to prevent impersonation, fraud and unauthorised alteration of candidates’ records.

Part of the statement read: “The service will be available at designated JAMB Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centres, including State Offices where applicable.

“Candidates seeking to access the service are required to provide the new GSM number and/or email address, as applicable, as well as a duly executed court affidavit scanned and ready for upload.

How to access the service

According to JAMB, candidates are required to log into their e-Facility profiles using their existing credentials, including their email address, registration number or profile code.

“They are then expected to select ‘SIM Swap/eMail Change Payment’ from the menu and pay the prescribed fee.

“After payment, candidates are to proceed to a JAMB CBT Centre and access the SIM Swap/eMail Change Quicklink.

“At the centre, they will enter their profile code or existing GSM number and click ‘Fetch Details’, after which they will undergo biometric verification.

“The candidate will then select the required service — GSM number only, email address only, or both GSM number and email address — before entering the new details and uploading the scanned court affidavit.

“The process is completed by clicking ‘Update’, after which a confirmation message will be displayed upon successful completion,” JAMB stated.

The Board advised candidates to use the service strictly for genuine cases and patronise only designated CBT centres.

JAMB further noted that the reviewed policy was part of its effort to balance strong data security with candidate-friendly service delivery, ensuring that genuine candidates are not unnecessarily disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control.

Candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions can now upload and verify their O’Level results from the comfort of their homes, following a new initiative by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Under the new arrangement, candidates will no longer need to visit Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres solely to upload their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results, as JAMB will verify the results directly with the examination bodies, beginning with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

In a statement on Monday in Abuja, JAMB’s Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr.

Fabian Benjamin, said the Board would continue to deploy technology and collaborate with examination and government agencies to simplify its services and make them more accessible to candidates.

According to him, the initiative was part of its renewed commitment to making its services “easier, faster, safer and more convenient” for candidates.

He said the integration of its e-Facility platform with examination bodies would enable candidates’ results to be verified against the records of the issuing bodies before being downloaded into their profiles.

The new system is also expected to address problems associated with manual O’Level result uploads, including misplaced or mixed-up paper results, presentation of fraudulent or unverified certificates and errors in the manual entry of subjects and grades.

The examination body said the initiative would particularly ease pressure on CBT centres during periods of high patronage and help reduce the effect of network challenges and long queues.

The statement reads: “Consequently, candidates can now upload their O’Level results from the comfort of their homes, while the Board undertakes the verification of such results directly with the issuing examination bodies.

“The initiative is part of the Board’s renewed commitment to making services easier, faster, safer and more convenient for candidates. By using technology to reduce unnecessary visits to CBT centres, queues and manual processes, JAMB is putting candidate ease of service delivery at the centre of its operations.

“The new arrangement also addresses challenges associated with manual O’Level result uploads, including misplaced or mixed-up paper results, presentation of unverified or fraudulent results, and errors in the manual entry of subjects and grades. Through the integration of JAMB’s eFacility platform with examination bodies, results can now be verified directly against the examination body’s records before being downloaded into the candidate’s profile.”

To use the new service, candidates are required to visit its website, enter their National Identification Number (NIN) and select the number of examination sittings and relevant examination body or bodies.

After providing their email address and GSM number, candidates are required to pay for the verification using a debit card or bank transfer before entering their examination number, examination series and examination year.

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

A Professor of History at the Federal University, Lokoja, Suberu Ochi Abdulrahaman, has raised the alarm over the prevailing political illegality bedeviling Nigeria insisting that leaders in the system should endeavor to obey the laws of the land and do the right thing that would move the nation forward.

Professor Abdulrahaman made the observation while delivering the 45th Inaugural Lecture Series of the University at its Felele Campus, in Lokoja, on Wednesday.

Professor Abdulrahaman in his Lecture titled, Persisting Illegalities in Nigeria’s Political Space: Who is to Blame? A Historical Discourse on Power, Institution and Democratic Governance, noted that political illegality which ranges from electoral fraud, arbitrary use of executive power for manipulation and intimidation to sponsorship of thuggery and violence in the system, amongst others, can only be overcome if leaders in governance work in accordance with the nation’s constitution.

According to the Inaugural lecturer “The resistance of political illegalities is neither accidental nor the responsibility of a single institution or generation.

“It is the cumulative product of colonial administrative legacies, prolonged military
authoritarianism, weak institutional development, political opportunism, inadequate civic engagement, and failures of ethical
Leadership.

“History teaches us that no nation develops sustainably when public institutions are weakened by impunity, when constitutional rules are subordinated to personal interests, or when political power is exercised without accountability.

“Equally, history reminds us that societies are capable of renewal when they choose to strengthen institutions rather than personalities, uphold the rule of law rather than arbitrary power, and promote justice above expediency.

“Accordingly, the challenge before Nigeria is not simply to conduct periodic elections or enact additional legislation.
The greater challenge is to cultivate a democratic culture in which constitutionalism becomes habitual, public office is regarded as a sacred trust, institutions command public confidence, and citizens
actively defend democratic values.

“Political leaders must recognise that authority derives its legitimacy not merely from electoral victory but from faithful obedience to the Constitution and unwavering commitment to the public good.

“Institutions must be empowered to function independently, impartially, and professionally.

” Citizens must reject every form of political illegality, whether manifested through vote buying, political
violence, corruption, or indifference to injustice”

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye in his welcome address, disclosed that his administration will continue to give Inaugural Lecture Series topmost priority as it offers opportunity for where the public is highly equipped with relevant knowledge on contemporary issues affecting the society.

He described Professor Suberu Abdulrahaman as an accomplished historian who has made his mark in his academic field.