The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned that registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will close in 17 days, on Thursday, February 26, 2026, stressing that the deadline will not be extended.
The Board urged prospective candidates to complete their registration promptly, noting that it would not shift the closing date under any circumstances.
In its weekly bulletin released on Monday, JAMB expressed concern over the low turnout of candidates at several accredited registration centres across the country, despite the process being well underway.
JAMB stated that the long-standing habit of candidates delaying registration until the final days and later demanding 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,” the Board said.
The examination body also accused examination cheats and individuals posing as tutorial centre operators of misleading candidates into postponing their registration. According to JAMB, such actions are often intended to force an extension, allowing candidates to cluster at centres in a manner that encourages 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 added, explaining that the notice was issued to safeguard genuine and law-abiding candidates.
JAMB recalled that registration for the 2026 UTME began on Monday, January 26, 2026, and was 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 obtained their ePINs and are expected to complete their registration soon.
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 disregard any claims suggesting that the registration deadline would be extended.
Elijah Adeyemi
No comments:
Post a Comment