UTME 2026: JAMB gives 17-day ultimatum to candidates

2026-02-09 - 11:48

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned that the ongoing registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will close in exactly 17 days, on Thursday, February 26, 2026, with no possibility of an extension. The Board urged prospective candidates to complete their registration without delay, stressing that it would not shift the deadline “under any circumstances”. In its weekly bulletin released on Monday, JAMB expressed concern over the low turnout of candidates at many accredited registration centres nationwide, despite the registration being well underway. 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.