Prospective applicants have been reminded by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, or JAMB, that the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration deadline is February 26, 2026.
Candidates who planned to take the test were instructed by the board to finish registering right away, as there would be no extension of the deadline.
The board’s weekly bulletin, which was published on Monday, includes this information.
The low candidate attendance at a number of certified registration centers at this point in the process alarmed the board.
It stated that in 2026, the persistent practice of waiting until the last minute to register and then requesting an extension will not be accepted.
Candidates who purposefully postpone registration until the last few days and then start lobbying for an extension will not be allowed to continue this trend in 2026.
“JAMB is well aware of the intentional strategies used by exam cheaters and people posing as owners of tutorial centers to deceitfully suggest that applicants postpone registration until the last minute.
According to the report, “this tactic is frequently intended to compel an extension of the registration period, allowing candidates to be moved in large numbers to centers in groups, which facilitates examination malpractice.”
According to JAMB, the registration period for the 2026 UTME started on January 26 and was set to last for five weeks. The timeline was not altered.
According to the board, approximately one million candidates have expressed interest in the test thus far, and many of them have already obtained their ePINs and are anticipated to finish the registration process as soon as possible.
It further stated that because its operating schedule coincided with those of other examination bodies, it was not feasible to prolong the registration period.
Candidates were instructed by JAMB to register as soon as possible, to prevent last-minute rush, and to ignore any indication that the deadline will be extended.
The board made it clear that candidates who did not take action within the allotted period would not be held accountable.
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