The Federal Government has declared a sweeping crackdown on illegal admissions, warning that any university, polytechnic, or college of education that admits students outside the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Central Admissions Processing System, CAPS, will face stiff sanctions, including possible suspension of its operating licence.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, issued the warning on Monday in Abuja at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions. He said the era of parallel admission systems that undermine merit and public trust was over.
“Let me reiterate, without equivocation, that admissions conducted outside this framework are illegal and will not be recognised,” Alausa said. “I have resisted many attempts at condoning illegality in the admissions process. I will not be a party to such actions.”
The minister stated that heads of institutions found violating the policy would be held accountable without hesitation. “Any institution found to have conducted admissions outside the CAPS will be held accountable, and appropriate sanctions shall be applied without hesitation,” he declared.
CAPS, introduced in 2017, is the government’s digital platform for processing all admissions into tertiary institutions. It allows candidates to track their admission status in real time and ensures that offers align with approved quotas and merit. JAMB data shows that over 2,600 university admissions conducted outside CAPS have been flagged in recent years, leaving affected students at risk of being ineligible for NYSC and other official recognition.
Alausa also announced new admission exemptions to widen access. Candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education and into National Diploma programmes in non-technology and agricultural courses will no longer be required to sit for the UTME. However, they must still register with JAMB for credential verification, and admission letters will be issued only through CAPS.
On the age policy, the government retained 16 years as the minimum admission age for tertiary institutions following extensive consultations. Alausa said the decision balances inclusivity with academic readiness, though provisions will exist for exceptionally gifted students under strict guidelines.
The minister commended JAMB for waiving application fees for persons with disabilities and highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as part of efforts to remove financial barriers.
He warned that enforcement would be consistent. “The era in which institutions operated parallel admission systems, often to the detriment of deserving candidates, must come to an end,” Alausa said. “Heads of institutions in both public and private sectors must be aware that such breaches could attract serious penalties, including regulatory action.”