JAMB 2026 UTME: Full list of banned items, penalties announced

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released a comprehensive list of prohibited items for candidates sitting the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), warning that strict penalties will be enforced for any violations.

The board, which conducts the annual entrance examination into Nigerian tertiary institutions, said the measures are part of efforts to curb examination malpractice and ensure the integrity of the process nationwide.

According to JAMB, candidates are not allowed to bring a wide range of personal and electronic items into Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres. These include mobile phones, calculators, wristwatches, USB devices, cameras, earpieces, Bluetooth gadgets, and other electronic devices.

The board also listed items such as books, notes, writing materials (except approved HB pencils), bags, wallets, and even accessories like jewellery, smart rings, and sunglasses among prohibited items.

Candidates are advised to arrive at examination centres with only essential documents, including their registration slip, as most materials needed for the exam will be provided on-site.

JAMB warned that possession of any banned item could lead to immediate disqualification from the examination and cancellation of results.

In more serious cases, offenders may be handed over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution, as security personnel will be deployed across CBT centres to enforce compliance.  

The board also stressed that its rules apply not only to candidates but to examination officials as well, noting that any staff found with prohibited items would face disciplinary action.

To ensure compliance, candidates will undergo multiple screening procedures, including biometric verification and physical checks, before being allowed into examination halls.

JAMB reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, urging candidates to familiarise themselves with the guidelines to avoid avoidable sanctions.

The 2026 UTME is expected to take place across accredited CBT centres nationwide, with thousands of candidates participating in the yearly examination that determines admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.