The (JAMB) has reiterated that the registration deadline for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will not be extended, urging prospective candidates to complete their enrolment before February 26 or forfeit their chance to sit the exam.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Board confirmed that the sale of e-PINs — a compulsory requirement for registration — will end at 12:00 midnight on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Registration at approved Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres for candidates who have already obtained their e-PINs will close on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
As of February 17, JAMB reported that more than 1.5 million candidates had successfully registered across the country.
Despite the high number, the Board noted that registration centres nationwide are currently operating at less than 30 per cent of their daily capacity, suggesting that many eligible candidates are yet to begin the process. JAMB stated that it has the infrastructure to register up to 100,000 candidates per day, far above the present turnout.
“The Board wishes to clearly state that there will be no extension of the registration deadline,” the statement emphasised.
JAMB explained that its examination schedule aligns with a nationally harmonised calendar involving all examination bodies in Nigeria, and the UTME registration period was deliberately structured to allow a smooth transition into other scheduled public examinations.
“Consequently, there is no available window for any extension, even if the Board were inclined to consider one,” it said.
The Board cautioned that candidates who wait until the final days risk facing unnecessary difficulties and made it clear that appeals would not be considered once the deadline expires. It described the advance notice as a preventive step to ensure that serious applicants are not excluded due to procrastination.
With only a few days left before the vending deadline, JAMB urged intending candidates to promptly secure their e-PINs and complete their registration at accredited centres.
“All prospective candidates are urged to act now,” the statement concluded.
The 2026 UTME is expected to draw millions of applicants seeking admission into tertiary institutions nationwide, making strict adherence to the registration timeline essential for candidates.