State insists on higher standards, says no admission below 185 as plans for a fourth university gather pace

The Lagos State Government has firmly rejected the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) benchmark of 150 for university admissions, setting a stricter minimum score of 185 for candidates seeking entry into its state-owned institutions for the 2026 academic session.

Speaking at a ministerial press briefing in Alausa, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, said the state would not compromise on academic standards by adopting what he described as a low national benchmark. He stressed that Lagos, given its educational capacity and competitiveness, cannot align with standards designed for less-advantaged states.

Sule made it clear that all three state-owned universities in Lagos will enforce the 185 cut-off mark, ruling out admission for candidates who fall below the threshold. He noted that the policy reflects the government’s commitment to quality education, even as it continues to widen access to tertiary institutions.

The commissioner also revealed that the state is advancing plans to establish a fourth university, a move aimed at accommodating growing demand while sustaining academic excellence.

JAMB had earlier pegged the national minimum cut-off mark for universities at 150, with polytechnics and monotechnics set at 100, and colleges of nursing sciences at 150. However, individual institutions retain the authority to set higher cut-off marks based on their standards and level of competition.