The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has firmly stated that it will not extend the registration deadline for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), urging candidates to complete their enrolment before the closing dates or forfeit their chance to sit the exam.
In a public notice released on Tuesday, the examination body announced that the sale of e-PINs — a compulsory requirement for UTME registration — will end at midnight on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Candidates who have already purchased their e-PINs will have until Saturday, February 28, 2026, to finalize their registration at accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.
As of February 17, over 1.5 million candidates had successfully registered for the examination. Despite this milestone, JAMB expressed concern over what it described as low turnout at registration centres, revealing that many facilities across the country are operating at just about 30 percent of their daily capacity.
National Examination Calendar
The Board disclosed that it has the infrastructure to process approximately 100,000 candidates per day — a figure significantly higher than the current number of applicants showing up at centres.
It stressed that the registration schedule is part of a harmonised national examination calendar coordinated with other assessment bodies, leaving no room for adjustments.
According to JAMB, the UTME registration timeline was carefully designed to ensure a smooth progression into other public examinations scheduled later in the year.
As such, the Board maintained that extending the deadline is not an option under any circumstance.
Candidates were cautioned against waiting until the final days to begin the process, as last-minute rushes could lead to avoidable technical or logistical challenges.
JAMB also made it clear that appeals for late registration would not be considered once the window closes.
Describing the notice as a preventive measure, the Board said it aims to ensure that serious candidates are not excluded due to procrastination.
Prospective applicants were therefore advised to secure their e-PINs promptly and visit accredited CBT centres to complete their enrolment.
Also Read: Chief Priest Says South-East Support for Tinubu Could Secure Nnamdi Kanu’s Release
The 2026 UTME is projected to draw millions of candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria, underscoring the importance of meeting all registration deadlines.