The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reminded prospective candidates that registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will officially close on February 26, urging applicants to act fast and avoid last-minute pressure.
In a statement contained in its weekly bulletin released on Monday, the examination body stressed that the deadline will not be extended under any circumstance, warning candidates against the привычка of delaying registration until the final days.
JAMB expressed concern over the low turnout at several accredited registration centres despite the exercise already running for weeks. According to the board, many candidates still wait until the closing days before rushing to centres and demanding extensions.
“This recurring pattern, where candidates deliberately delay registration and later agitate for an extension, will not be entertained in 2026,” the board stated.
It added that some examination cheats and individuals posing as tutorial centre operators often mislead candidates into postponing registration in order to force an extension period that enables mass movement of candidates and encourages examination malpractice.
JAMB explained that registration for the 2026 UTME began on January 26 and was scheduled to run for five weeks, noting that the timeline remains unchanged.
The board revealed that about one million candidates have already indicated interest, with many having obtained their ePINs and expected to complete registration without delay.
It further noted that extending the registration period is impracticable because JAMB’s operational calendar is aligned with those of other national examination bodies.
Candidates were therefore advised to register early, avoid the closing-day rush, and ignore rumours suggesting that the deadline would be shifted.
JAMB concluded that it would not take responsibility for any candidate who fails to complete registration within the approved timeframe.
