2026 UTME: JAMB sets 17-day deadline for candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has warned that the ongoing registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination will end in exactly 17 days, on Thursday, February 26, 2026, with no chance of an extension.

The board advised all intending candidates to complete their registration as soon as possible, stressing that the deadline would not be shifted “under any circumstances.”

In its weekly bulletin released on Monday, JAMB said it was worried about the poor turnout of candidates at many accredited registration centres across the country, even though the registration process is already in progress.

According to the board, candidates who fail to register before the closing date will miss the opportunity to sit for the 2026 UTME, as late registration will not be entertained. JAMB urged prospective candidates and their parents to take the warning seriously and avoid waiting until the last minute.

According to the Board, the habitual practice of candidates delaying registration until the final days, only to later demand an extension, will not be tolerated in 2026.

“This recurring pattern, where candidates deliberately wait until the last minute and subsequently agitate for an extension, will not be entertained,” JAMB stated.

The examination body also accused examination cheats and individuals posing as tutorial centre operators of deliberately misleading candidates to postpone registration.

It explained that such advice is often aimed at forcing an extension of the registration window, which then allows candidates to move en masse to centres, an arrangement that facilitates examination 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 Board said, adding that the notice was issued to protect genuine and law-abiding candidates from being misled.

JAMB recalled that the 2026 UTME registration commenced on Monday, January 26, 2026, and was clearly scheduled to last five weeks, a timeline it said remains unchanged.

The Board disclosed that about one million candidates have already indicated interest in the examination, while many others have procured their ePINs and are expected to complete their registration promptly.

It further explained that extending the registration period would be impracticable, as its operational calendar is closely aligned with those of other examination bodies.

“Any extension would disrupt this coordinated schedule and encroach on timelines already allocated to other national examinations,” JAMB noted.

The Board therefore advised candidates to register early, avoid last-minute rushes, and ignore any claims suggesting that the registration deadline would be extended.

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