JAMB lifts ban on SIM swap and email change for UTME candidates. See who qualifies, the court affidavit requirement, and the full step-by-step process.
JAMB Lifts Ban on SIM Swap and Email Change
If you’ve ever lost a SIM card or forgotten the password to the email you used for JAMB registration, you know the kind of panic that follows. For years, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had a hard rule: once you register, that phone number and email are locked to your profile. No changes. No exceptions. If you lost access, you were basically stuck.
That has finally changed. JAMB has officially lifted the ban on SIM swaps and email changes, but there’s a catch. This isn’t a free-for-all. It’s a controlled process with strict verification, and you only get one shot at it. Let me break down exactly what this means for you, how to do it, and the things you need to watch out for.
What Exactly Changed?
The new policy took effect on Monday, September 21, 2026. According to JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the board decided to relax the rules because many genuine candidates were suffering after losing access to their registered credentials .
The old ban was a security measure. JAMB was worried about fraud and impersonation. But with stronger biometric verification now in place, they feel confident enough to allow changes—under very specific conditions .
Here’s the most important part: this service is available only ONCE per candidate . So if you’re going to do it, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons and that all your details are correct.
Who Is This Actually For?
This isn’t for someone who just wants to use a new fancy phone number. This is for candidates who have genuinely lost access to their registered SIM card or email address. Maybe your phone was stolen. Maybe your email account got hacked and you can’t recover it. Maybe you used a parent’s number years ago and now you can’t access it anymore.
If that’s you, JAMB is giving you a window to fix it. If you still have your old SIM and email working fine, this service is not for you. And JAMB has warned that they will verify everything, so trying to game the system will likely backfire .
The Requirements You Need to Gather
Before you start jumping through hoops, make sure you have these two things ready:
1. Your New GSM Number and/or Email Address
Decide whether you need to change just the phone number, just the email, or both. You’ll need the new details active and accessible because JAMB will send verification codes there .
2. A Court Affidavit
This is the big one. You cannot just walk into a CBT centre and say you lost your SIM. You need a duly executed court affidavit, scanned and ready for upload . This is JAMB’s way of making sure you’re serious and that there’s a legal record of your claim. If you don’t have this, start making arrangements to get one before you begin the process.
Step-by-Step: How to Change Your JAMB SIM or Email
JAMB has outlined a seven-step process. It sounds a bit technical, but if you follow it carefully, it’s straightforward. Here’s the breakdown in plain language:
Step 1: Log into Your e-Facility Profile
Go to the JAMB portal and log in using whatever you still have access to—your registration number, profile code, or the old email if you can still get in .
Step 2: Pay for the Service
Look for the option labeled “SIM Swap/eMail Change Payment” on the menu. Select it and pay the prescribed fee. You need to do this online before going to a centre.
Step 3: Go to a Designated JAMB CBT Centre
This is crucial. You cannot do this from your bedroom. The service is only available at designated JAMB CBT centres, PTC/PRC centres, or state offices . Don’t go to some random cybercafé. They can’t help you, and you might get scammed.
Step 4: Fetch Your Details
At the centre, access the SIM Swap/eMail Change Quicklink. Enter your Profile Code or your existing GSM number and click “Fetch Details.” This pulls up your record in the system.
Step 5: Biometric Verification
You will need to do a fingerprint or biometric check. This is the security layer that made the ban lifting possible in the first place. It confirms you are the person on the record .
Step 6: Enter New Details and Upload Affidavit
Select what you want to change: GSM number only, Email only, or Both. Then type in your new details and upload that scanned court affidavit.
Step 7: Click Update and Confirm
Hit the “Update” button. If everything checks out, you’ll see a confirmation message on the screen. That means you’re done .
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Can I change my JAMB phone number and email more than once?
No. JAMB has been very clear on this. The service is available only once per candidate . If you mess up the details you submit, you might not get another chance. Double-check everything before you hit “Update.”
Do I really need a court affidavit, or can I just explain at the CBT centre?
You need the court affidavit. It is a mandatory requirement. JAMB specifically lists a “duly executed court affidavit, scanned and ready for upload” as one of the things you must bring . Without it, the CBT centre officials will not be able to process your request.
What if I only lost my SIM card but still have my email?
Generating…
Can I do this at any cybercafé or only at JAMB centres?
Only at designated JAMB CBT centres, PTC/PRC centres, and JAMB state offices. JAMB explicitly warned candidates against using “unauthorised channels or third parties” . Going to a random business centre is risky and they likely don’t have access to the Quicklink anyway.
Why did JAMB ban this in the first place if they were just going to lift it?
They banned it because of fraud concerns. People were trying to swap numbers to impersonate candidates or alter records illegally. Now that JAMB has stronger biometric and identity verification systems, they can confirm you are who you say you are before allowing the change . It’s a security upgrade, not a policy flip-flop.
I’m preparing for UTME. Does this affect my registration?
If you already have a JAMB profile from a previous year and you’ve lost access to the phone or email tied to it, yes, this affects you. You’ll need to do the swap before you can comfortably register for the next UTME. If you’re a fresh candidate who hasn’t registered yet, just make sure you use a phone number and email you will definitely keep safe.
One Last Word of Caution
This policy is a relief for a lot of people who have been stuck for years. But don’t rush into it. Get your court affidavit sorted first. Make sure the new phone number and email you’re using are ones you control and will keep for a long time. And when you go to the CBT centre, go to a designated one. JAMB has warned that anyone caught using unauthorised channels will face consequences .
And while you’re sorting out your JAMB profile, don’t forget the actual exam preparation. When you’re ready to practice online JAMB Government or dig into past questions, myschoolflo has everything you need in one place. No need to scatter your search across ten different sites. Get your registration sorted, then get back to studying.