The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will close definitively on Thursday, February 26, 2026—exactly 17 days from today—with no possibility of an extension.
In a weekly bulletin released on Monday, the Board expressed concern over the low turnout at accredited registration centers nationwide and urged prospective candidates to complete their enrollment immediately. JAMB stated emphatically that it will not shift the deadline “under any circumstances,” cautioning against the habitual last-minute rush.
The Board highlighted a recurring pattern where candidates delay registration until the final days and then demand an extension, a practice it says will not be tolerated this year. JAMB also accused some tutorial centers and examination fraudsters of deliberately misleading candidates to postpone registration, a tactic often used to create crowded conditions that facilitate malpractice.
“JAMB is fully aware of these deliberate tactics and has factored them into its planning. There will be no extension of the registration period,” the bulletin stated, adding that the announcement is intended to protect serious candidates from misinformation.
Registration for the 2026 UTME began on Monday, January 26, 2026, and was scheduled for a five-week period. JAMB noted that while about one million candidates have indicated interest and many have purchased their ePINs, a significant number have yet to finalize the process.
The Board explained that extending the deadline is impractical, as its operational calendar is synchronized with other national examination bodies. Any delay would disrupt this coordinated schedule and affect other assessments.
JAMB’s final advice to candidates is to register early, avoid last-minute pressure, and disregard any claims of a potential extension.
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