The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said the results of underage applicants were intentionally being withheld in accordance with its admission guidelines, as it explained the reason for the “no result yet” notifications received by some candidates.

JAMB’s spokesman, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said the clarification became necessary following a spike in enquiries from worried parents.

He explained that candidates who fall below the approved age requirement would not have their results released for now, which is why the system returns the “no result yet” message.

Fabian reiterated that eligibility for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was limited to candidates who would be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, noting that exceptions were strictly governed by the board’s special policy for gifted candidates.

According to him, under this category, candidates must exhibit exceptional academic performance by scoring no less than 320 in the UTME and attaining a minimum of 80 per cent in subsequent screening exercises to qualify for admission consideration.

Fabian further disclosed that, in line with prior agreements reached with parents, only those who meet the 320 score threshold would be shortlisted and invited for additional assessments, thereby tightening the criteria for exceptional admission.

He added that until the screening process was concluded, the results of affected underage candidates would remain withheld, urging stakeholders to exercise patience as the board upholds standards designed to protect the integrity of the country’s admission process.