The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) gives candidates full visibility and control over admission offers from Nigerian tertiary institutions. Instead of waiting for confusing SMSes or rumor, CAPS allows you to see offers online, accept them, or reject them so you remain available for other offers. Accepting or rejecting an offer correctly is critical: you must accept an admission on CAPS before JAMB closes the window for the admission year, otherwise your offer will not be valid for matriculation. This guide explains every accepted method (JAMB e-facility portal and official SMS shortcodes), walks you through the exact clicks and messages to send, shows how to correct mistakes, and answers the most common questions students face during admission. All steps below reflect JAMB’s CAPS rules and the Board’s official e-facility processes.
Table of Contents
Quick overview Two ways to Accept or Reject on CAPS
Via JAMB e-Facility / CAPS portal (recommended for full control) log in to your e-facility account, open CAPS, view the offer and click Accept Admission or Reject Admission.
Via official SMS (fast, mobile) — send your JAMB registration number + space + ACCEPT or REJECT from the same phone number you used to register for JAMB to the JAMB shortcodes 55019 or 66019. Example: 2025XXXXXXXXX ACCEPT. Wait a few minutes and verify on CAPS.
Important: Accepting an offer removes you from consideration by other institutions for that admission year; rejecting keeps you eligible for other offers. If you do nothing before CAPS closes for the year, you will NOT be regarded as admitted. JAMB’s admission guidelines make this explicit.
In today’s fast-paced world, digital banking isn’t just a convenience it’s becoming a necessity. Alat by Wema Bank (often just called “ALAT”) is one of Nigeria’s pioneering fully digital banks. It offers a wide array of financial services all accessible from your smartphone or browser. Whether you want to save, pay bills, take a small…
In the fast‑moving Nigerian banking landscape, online‑first banks are becoming increasingly attractive. One such player is VFD Bank, offering digital‑native banking services, low‑cost accounts and mobile apps designed for convenience. Whether you’re a salaried employee, a freelancer, or simply someone who prefers banking entirely from a phone, VFD Bank promises to simplify things. In this…
For many small and medium-sized businesses in Nigeria, Moniepoint has become a go-to fintech solution. It’s not just a payments app it offers business accounts, POS (point-of-sale) terminals, and features optimized for merchants. Whether you’re running a shop, a kiosk, or a modern retail business, Moniepoint aims to make money movement seamless, accessible, and cost-effective.…
Step-by-step: Accept or Reject Admission using the JAMB e-Facility (desktop or mobile browser)
Before you start: Have your JAMB registration number, JAMB e-facility login details (email & password), and access to the phone number you used for registration.
Open the JAMB e-Facility portal Go to https://efacility.jamb.gov.ng/ and sign in with the e-mail address and password used during JAMB registration. If you haven’t created an e-facility profile, create one using the same email used for JAMB. efacility.jamb.gov.ng
Locate “Check Admission Status” or CAPS On the dashboard click Check Admission Status or Access my CAPS (link names may vary slightly). This takes you to the CAPS page where all offers and admission history appear.
View your current Admission Status CAPS displays one of several statuses: Not Admitted, Admission in Progress, Admitted, or Transfer Proposed. If the portal shows Admitted for an institution/course, a button for Accept Admission and Reject Admission will appear.
To accept: click Accept Admission. Confirm any prompt (the portal will usually ask you to confirm your choice). Once accepted, the system updates your status and you can proceed to the institution’s portal to pay acceptance fees and complete registration.
To reject: click Reject Admission. Confirm the prompt. Rejecting will put you back into the pool for other institutions to consider you (if they have vacancies). Be aware rejecting will NOT automatically offer you another admission; you’ll need to keep monitoring CAPS.
Verify changes: after accepting/rejecting wait 5–15 minutes and refresh CAPS to confirm the change. Also check your email and the phone number linked to your JAMB profile for confirmation messages.
Next steps after acceptance: follow the admitting institution’s instructions — pay acceptance fee on the school portal, upload documents if required, print JAMB admission letter (only possible after acceptance), and complete any school-specific screening. JAMB’s portal and the school portal both list these steps.
Step-by-step: Accept or Reject Admission by SMS (fast method)
Use this only from the phone number you used for JAMB registration. SMS from a different number will not be processed.
Open SMS on your phone.
Type: Your JAMB registration number then a space then ACCEPT or REJECT. Example: 2025XXXXXXXXX ACCEPT or 2025XXXXXXXXX REJECT
Send to 55019 (or 66019). Wait for a confirmation SMS from JAMB (it may take a few minutes).
After receiving the SMS confirmation, immediately log in to CAPS (efacility) and verify that your choice has been recorded. If the portal does not reflect the SMS change after 30 minutes, contact JAMB support or try accepting/rejecting via the portal.
What to do if the CAPS buttons are missing or greyed out
Not yet processed by the school: The institution may not have approved your admission on their end. Contact the institution’s admission office.
Admission in progress: The school may have proposed you but not yet finalized—status will change once approved.
Wrong phone number: If you used SMS and it didn’t work, ensure you sent from the same number used in your JAMB profile. If incorrect, update JAMB profile via CBT centre where possible.
Common scenarios & recommended actions
Scenario
What you see on CAPS
What to do
Offered admission and want to accept
“Admitted” + Accept/Reject buttons
Click Accept Admission (portal) or send SMS then verify on CAPS. Proceed to school portal to pay acceptance fee.
Offered admission but prefer another school
“Admitted”
Reject the offer (portal or SMS) and keep monitoring CAPS for other offers. Rejecting keeps you eligible for other institutions.
Admission shows “Admission in Progress”
No Accept/Reject available
Wait—school must finalize. Contact school admissions if status stays long.
No admission yet
“Not Admitted”
Remain patient; institutions release lists in batches. Consider change of course/institution if eligible.
Deadlines & why acting fast matters
CAPS closure: JAMB sets a cut-off date each admission cycle; any candidate who fails to accept/reject before closure is not regarded as admitted and cannot be registered for matriculation that year. This is in JAMB’s admission guidelines. Accept or reject promptly when an offer appears.
School deadlines: After accepting on CAPS many schools require immediate payment of acceptance fees or submission of documents. Missing school deadlines can still cause the school to withdraw you. Always follow both JAMB and the admitting school’s timelines.
How to undo a mistaken acceptance or rejection
Mistaken acceptance: Once you click Accept on CAPS, that admission is recorded. If you need to change it (e.g., you accepted by mistake), immediately contact JAMB support and the admitting institution’s admission office. They may request a deletion or change which must be approved by the institution and JAMB. There is no simple “undo” button.
Mistaken rejection: If you rejected but change your mind, contact the admitting school to see if they can re-propose you on CAPS. If they can, you will receive a fresh offer to accept. Time is critical — act fast.
Practical tips & checklist before you accept an offer
✅ Confirm the institution and course shown on CAPS — some schools propose a different course to what you applied for; consider whether you accept the new course.
✅ Use the registered phone number for SMS actions. SMS from other numbers will fail.
✅ Verify O’Level uploads — awaiting results candidates must upload results before final approval. CAPS may require result uploads.
✅ Record confirmation after accepting, take a screenshot of CAPS showing “Accepted” and save any SMS confirmations.
✅ Pay school acceptance fees quickly the school may delete/withdraw if you do not pay within their deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. I accepted an admission on CAPS. Can I still apply for change of institution? No. Acceptance finalizes your admission. To move, you would need to follow official transfer/change procedures (which are limited and controlled). Contact the admitting institution and JAMB if you have special reasons.
Q2. I sent ACCEPT via SMS but CAPS still shows Not Admitted. What do I do? Wait 10–30 minutes, then refresh CAPS. If the portal still doesn’t reflect the change, resend the SMS from the registered number and/or accept via the e-facility portal. If problems persist, contact JAMB support.
Q3. I accepted but the institution says my admission is not valid. Confirm you accepted the offer on CAPS and also paid the school’s acceptance fee if required. A school may still require their internal verification. Provide proof of acceptance (CAPS screenshot) to the school and liaise with both the school and JAMB.
Q4. Can I accept admission for a different course if the school proposes a transfer? If an institution proposes a transfer, CAPS will show the proposed course and let you accept or reject the transfer. Review the new course carefully before accepting.
Q5 What if CAPS closes before I accept? If CAPS is closed for the year you cannot accept for that session and you will not be regarded as admitted for matriculation. Contact JAMB and the admitting institution immediately to ask about options.
Shortcodes for SMS acceptance/rejection:55019 or 66019 use only the phone number registered with JAMB.
Conclusion
Accepting or rejecting an admission offer on JAMB CAPS is a simple action with major consequences. Use the e-facility portal for the most reliable control and record of your choice, or the official SMS shortcodes (55019 / 66019) for a fast mobile option but always verify the result on CAPS after any action. Act quickly when an offer appears, because JAMB and schools enforce strict deadlines: if you fail to accept before CAPS closes for the year, you will not be considered admitted for that academic session. Follow the steps in this guide, save proof of actions, and contact JAMB or the admitting institution immediately if anything goes wrong.
