The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has firmly stated that registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will close on Thursday, 26 February 2026, with no possibility of an extension.
The Board issued the warning in its weekly bulletin released on Monday, urging prospective candidates across the country to complete their registration promptly and avoid the habitual last-minute rush that often characterises the exercise.
According to JAMB, the registration process, which commenced on Monday, 26 January 2026, was clearly scheduled to last for five weeks. The examination body stressed that the timeline remains unchanged and will be strictly adhered to.
Concern Over Low Turnout
JAMB expressed concern over what it described as a low turnout of candidates at several accredited registration centres nationwide, despite the exercise being well underway.
The Board noted that although approximately one million candidates have already indicated interest in sitting the examination, many have yet to finalise their registration. It added that a significant number of prospective candidates have purchased their ePINs but are yet to complete the process at designated centres.
Officials warned that delaying registration until the final days creates unnecessary congestion, increases the risk of technical hitches, and exposes candidates to avoidable stress.
No Room for Deadline Agitation
The examination body made it clear that it would not entertain any agitation for an extension of the registration period.
“This recurring pattern, where candidates deliberately wait until the last minute and subsequently agitate for an extension, will not be entertained,” the Board stated.
JAMB said it has observed a trend over the years in which some candidates intentionally delay registration, only to later demand additional time. The Board emphasised that
this practice disrupts its carefully planned operational calendar and creates avoidable pressure on its system.Allegations of Misleading Advice
The Board also accused certain individuals, including examination cheats and persons posing as tutorial centre operators, of deliberately misleading candidates into postponing their registration.
According to JAMB, such tactics are often designed to force an extension of the registration window. The Board explained that when large numbers of candidates converge on centres at the last minute, it becomes easier for unscrupulous elements to manipulate the process and facilitate 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 bulletin stated.
The Board added that its public notice is aimed at protecting genuine and law-abiding candidates from falling victim to misinformation.
Operational Calendar Cannot Be Disrupted
JAMB further explained that extending the registration deadline would be impracticable, as its activities are closely aligned with those of other national examination bodies.
“Any extension would disrupt this coordinated schedule and encroach on timelines already allocated to other national examinations,” the Board noted.
The examination body said its calendar is structured to ensure seamless coordination with institutions of higher learning and other stakeholders in the education sector.
Advice to Candidates
JAMB therefore advised all prospective candidates to register early, avoid last-minute rushes, and disregard any claims suggesting that the registration deadline would be extended.
It reiterated that only information released through its official communication channels should be considered credible.
With 17 days remaining before the close of registration, the Board urged candidates who are yet to complete the process to do so immediately to avoid being shut out of the 2026 UTME.
