The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a firm warning to candidates preparing for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), announcing that the ongoing registration will close in exactly 17 days.
According to the Board, the registration exercise will end on Thursday, February 26, 2026, with no possibility of an extension. JAMB stressed that the deadline is final and will not be shifted “under any circumstances.”
The examination body gave the warning in its weekly bulletin released on Monday, expressing concern over the low turnout of candidates at many accredited registration centres across the country, despite the registration process being well underway.
JAMB disclosed that about one million candidates have already indicated interest in the 2026 UTME, while many others have obtained their ePINs and are expected to complete their registration promptly.
The Board cautioned against the habitual practice of candidates delaying registration until the final days and then demanding an extension, noting that such behaviour would not be tolerated this year.
“This recurring pattern, where candidates deliberately wait until the last minute and subsequently agitate for an extension, will not be entertained,” JAMB stated.
The Board also accused examination cheats and individuals posing as tutorial centre operators of deliberately misleading candidates to delay registration. According to JAMB, such tactics are often aimed at forcing an extension, which then allows candidates to converge at centres in ways that encourage 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.
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 explained that extending the registration period would be impracticable, as its operational calendar is 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,” JAMB noted.
Candidates were therefore advised to complete their registration early, avoid last-minute rushes, and disregard any claims suggesting that the registration deadline would be extended.
