The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has revealed that at least 9,460 illegal admissions were carried out by 20 tertiary institutions across Nigeria for the 2024 academic session.
According to the Board, the admissions were processed outside the Central Admission Processing System, a platform established to promote fairness and transparency in Nigeria’s tertiary admission procedures.
Data obtained from JAMB show that Kano State University of Science and Technology accounted for the highest number of irregular admissions with 2,215 cases, followed by Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, which recorded 1,215.
Other institutions cited include Gombe State University (1,164), Emmanuel Alayande University of Education (761), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (534), and Ambrose Alli University (514).
Additional institutions implicated are Igbinedion University (365), Akwa Ibom Polytechnic (340), College of Nursing, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi (281), Achievers University (267), and the Nigeria Police Academy (263).
The list also features Abia State Polytechnic (256), Osun State University (224), Federal University, Lafia (189), Niger State Polytechnic (182), Federal Polytechnic, Idah (171), and Edo State Polytechnic (166).
Others named include Anchor University (133), Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (116), and the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology (113).
JAMB reiterated that the use of CAPS is compulsory for all admission processes, warning that any admission conducted outside the platform is invalid.
“The CAPS initiative was introduced to promote transparency, ensure merit-based admissions, and allow candidates to track their status in real time,” the Board stated. “Institutions must comply with CAPS regulations to maintain the credibility of the admission process.”
Echoing this stance, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, speaking during JAMB’s 2025 policy meeting held in Abuja last week, affirmed that any admission outside CAPS is illegal and punishable.
“Any admission conducted outside CAPS, regardless of the motivation, is unlawful,” Dr. Alausa declared. “Institutions and individuals involved will face strict consequences, including asset withdrawal and legal prosecution.”
He further warned that students who gain admission through unauthorized means may be disqualified from participating in key national programs such as the National Youth Service Corps.
JAMB has consistently warned institutions against what it describes as “backdoor admissions,” stressing that such practices undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
“This move is part of our ongoing efforts to sanitize the sector and uphold merit and accountability in the admission process,” the Board concluded.
