- The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reiterated that there will be no extension of the 2026 UTME registration deadline
- The board disclosed that over 1.5 million candidates have registered nationwide, yet registration centres are operating at only 30% of their capacity
- JAMB urged all prospective candidates to act promptly, obtain e-PINs, and complete registration to avoid last-minute challenges and missing the examination
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reaffirmed that it will not extend the registration deadline for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), urging prospective candidates to complete their enrolment before February 26 or forfeit their chance to sit the examination.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, February 17, the Board announced that the sale of e-PINs, a compulsory requirement for UTME registration, will end at 12:00 midnight on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Candidates who have already purchased their e-PINs will have until Saturday, February 28, 2026, to finalise their registration at accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.
As of February 17, JAMB disclosed that more than 1.5 million candidates had successfully registered across the country.
However, despite the high turnout, the Board expressed concern that many eligible applicants are yet to begin the process, noting that registration centres are currently operating at just 30 per cent of their daily capacity.
According to JAMB, its infrastructure can accommodate up to 100,000 registrations per day, a number far above the present volume of candidates visiting centres nationwide.
“The Board wishes to clearly state that there will be no extension of the registration deadline,” the statement emphasised.
The examination body explained that its schedule forms part of a broader, nationally coordinated calendar agreed upon by all examination agencies in Nigeria. It noted that the UTME registration period was strategically designed to ensure a smooth transition into other public examinations slated to follow.
“Consequently, there is no available window for any extension, even if the Board were inclined to consider one,” it said.
JAMB further cautioned candidates against waiting until the final days to register, warning that last-minute rushes often lead to avoidable technical or logistical challenges.
The Board stressed that it would not entertain appeals once the deadline has passed. It described the advance notice as a deliberate step to prevent serious candidates from being excluded due to procrastination.
With only a few days left before the e-PIN vending deadline, the Board urged prospective candidates to obtain their e-PINs without delay and complete their registration at accredited CBT centres.
“All prospective candidates are urged to act now,” the statement concluded.
The 2026 UTME is projected to draw millions of applicants seeking admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria, underscoring the importance of complying strictly with the registration timeline.