Board Emphasizes Centralized Admission Process
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a stern warning to tertiary institutions and candidates, prohibiting any admission processes for the 2025 cycle from being conducted outside its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) portal. This directive comes after JAMB identified two unnamed institutions that allegedly persuaded or pressured candidates to make course changes on their own admission portals, rather than through the official CAPS system.
In a statement released on Monday, signed by JAMB’s Head of Media, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the board highlighted that such actions represent an unethical attempt to manipulate the admission process and undermine the merit-based system designed for fairness and transparency. The statement emphasized that all admission procedures in Nigeria are exclusively managed through CAPS, a platform specifically created to ensure accountability, transparency, and equal opportunity in admission placements.
Candidates are strongly advised by the board to disregard any requests from institutions to change their programmes through institutional portals or any unofficial channels. Any candidate who complies with such directives does so at their own peril, as these changes will not be recognized on the CAPS portal. Such candidates will not be considered for admission and will face the consequences independently.
JAMB stated that institutions engaging in these "backdoor manoeuvres" demonstrate an intent to deceive and disadvantage candidates, and such practices will not be tolerated by the Board.
The board's investigation revealed that a tertiary institution located in the South West region and another in FCT Abuja were involved in this unethical conduct. JAMB confirmed that appropriate regulatory actions have been initiated to address these manipulations and ensure the protection of candidates.
Admission Deadline Extension and CAPS Functionality
This development occurs as JAMB has extended the deadline for 2025 public university admissions to November 17, 2025, moving it from the original date of October 31. This extension was granted following an appeal from the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU), citing recent disruptions caused by legal challenges and course accreditation issues as reasons for the need for more time.
Understanding JAMB CAPS
The CAPS portal, introduced during the 2017/2018 academic session, functions as a central hub connecting JAMB, candidates, and their chosen institutions throughout the admission process. This comprehensive system manages the entire journey, from obtaining a UTME score to applying to an institution, undergoing post-UTME screening, and ultimately receiving an admission offer.
The CAPS portal is designed to streamline and effectively manage the admission process for tertiary institutions. It provides a single platform where candidates can upload their WAEC/NECO results, check their admission status, accept or reject admission offers, and manage all their admission-related information.
Essentially, the CAPS portal empowers candidates to track their admission progress and make decisions on offers, while institutions can recommend candidates and oversee the admission workflow. JAMB maintains an oversight role throughout this entire procedure to guarantee transparency and integrity.