The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reminded prospective candidates that registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will close in 17 days, on Thursday, February 26, 2026, and will not be extended.
The Board urged candidates who are yet to register to do so promptly, warning that the deadline is final and will not be shifted for any reason.
In its weekly bulletin released on Monday, JAMB expressed concern over the low number of candidates visiting accredited registration centres across the country, even though the exercise has been ongoing for weeks.
JAMB cautioned against the familiar trend of candidates waiting until the closing days of registration before calling for an extension, stressing that such requests will not be considered this year.
The examination body also alleged that some examination cheats and individuals posing as tutorial centre operators are deliberately encouraging candidates to delay registration. According to JAMB, this strategy is aimed at pressuring the Board into extending the registration period, which could create opportunities for examination malpractice.
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The Board said it is fully aware of these tactics and has already made adequate plans, insisting that the registration window will remain unchanged.
JAMB recalled that registration for the 2026 UTME began on January 26, 2026, with a clearly defined five-week duration. It disclosed that about one million candidates have already shown interest in the examination, while many others have obtained their ePINs and are expected to complete the process soon.
The Board explained that extending the registration period would disrupt its tightly scheduled operations, which are coordinated with other national examination bodies.
JAMB therefore advised candidates to complete their registration early, avoid last-minute rushes, and disregard any information suggesting that the registration deadline will be extended.
