The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will close on Thursday, February 26, 2026, stressing that the deadline will not be extended.
In its weekly bulletin, the board expressed concern over the low turnout at many accredited centres and warned candidates against the usual last-minute rush followed by calls for an extension, saying such appeals will not be entertained this year.
JAMB also alleged that some examination cheats and individuals posing as tutorial operators are misleading candidates into delaying registration in a bid to create pressure for an extension, a situation the board said often encourages malpractice.
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The board noted that registration, which began on January 26, is scheduled to last five weeks as originally planned. It disclosed that about one million candidates have shown interest, with many already obtaining their ePINs.
JAMB added that extending the exercise would disrupt its tightly coordinated examination calendar with other national bodies, urging candidates to register early and disregard rumours suggesting the deadline will be shifted.