The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration deadline is February 26, 2026, as JAMB, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, has reminded potential applicants.
As the deadline would not be extended in any way, the board recommended candidates who planned to take the test to finish their registration right away.
The weekly bulletin published by the board on Monday includes this information.
At this point in the process, the board was concerned about the low number of candidates attending a number of certified registration centers.
The repeated practice of waiting until the last minute to register and then requesting an extension will not be accepted in 2026, it stated.
In 2026, this pattern—in which candidates purposefully postpone registration until the last few days and then start lobbying for an extension—will not be tolerated.
Exam cheaters and people posing as owners of tutorial centers who deceitfully urge applicants to put off registering until the last minute are purposeful strategies that JAMB is well aware of.
“This tactic is frequently used to compel an extension of the registration period, which allows candidates to be moved in large numbers to centers in groups, thereby facilitating examination malpractice,” the statement stated.
According to JAMB, registration for the 2026 UTME began on January 26 and was expected to run for five weeks. The timing, however, remained the same.
Approximately one million candidates have expressed interest in the test thus far, according to the board, and many of them have already obtained their ePINs and are anticipated to finish registration as soon as possible.
Because its operating calendar coincided with that of other examination bodies, it also stated that it was not feasible to prolong the registration period.
Candidates should register in advance, avoid last-minute rushes, and ignore any indication that the deadline would be extended, according to JAMB.
The board made it clear that it would not be held accountable for candidates who did not take action within the allotted period.
