The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has made it clear that it will not extend the registration deadline for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, cautioning intending candidates to complete their registration process before February 26 or risk losing the chance to participate in the examination.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, the Board firmly announced that the sale of e-PINs, which are compulsory for UTME registration, will officially end at 12:00 midnight on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
The e-PIN serves as a mandatory access code for candidates to begin their registration at approved centres.
The Board further clarified that candidates who have already purchased their e-PINs will still be allowed to finalize their registration at accredited Computer-Based Test centres. However, this opportunity will only remain open until Saturday, February 28, 2026, after which no further registration activities will be permitted.
Providing an update on the ongoing exercise, JAMB revealed that more than 1.5 million candidates had successfully completed their registration nationwide as of February 17. While this number reflects significant participation, the Board expressed concern over the low level of daily attendance at registration centres across the country.
According to the examination body, CBT centres nationwide are currently operating at less than 30 percent of their daily processing capacity. This development suggests that a considerable number of eligible candidates have yet to take advantage of the registration window despite the approaching deadline.
JAMB emphasized that it has the infrastructure and technical capability to register up to 100,000 candidates per day, a capacity that far exceeds the present turnout being recorded at centres across the country. The Board warned that waiting until the final days could result in avoidable congestion and technical challenges for candidates.
“The Board wishes to clearly state that there will be no extension of the registration deadline,” the statement emphasised.
Explaining its position, JAMB noted that its examination schedule is integrated into a nationally harmonised calendar that has been collectively agreed upon by all major examination bodies in Nigeria. This coordination ensures that public examinations are conducted in a structured sequence without overlaps.
The Board explained that the UTME registration period was strategically planned to allow for a smooth transition into other public examinations scheduled to take place afterward. Altering the timeline would disrupt the broader academic calendar.
“Consequently, there is no available window for any extension, even if the Board were inclined to consider one,” it said.
JAMB also cautioned candidates against procrastination, stressing that those who delay their registration until the closing days may encounter unnecessary obstacles. The Board made it clear that once the deadline passes, it will not consider appeals or special requests from candidates who fail to register within the stipulated timeframe.
The examination authority described its advance notice as a deliberate effort to prevent serious candidates from being excluded due to last-minute delays. With only a few days remaining before the e-PIN vending deadline, JAMB urged all prospective applicants to promptly obtain their e-PINs and visit accredited CBT centres to complete their registration without further delay.
“All prospective candidates are urged to act now,” the statement concluded.
The 2026 UTME is projected to attract millions of applicants seeking admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria. Given the scale of participation and the competitive nature of university admissions, strict compliance with the registration timeline remains essential for candidates nationwide.
What you should know
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has fixed February 26, 2026, as the final date for the sale of e-PINs required for registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. The Board has firmly ruled out any possibility of extending this deadline.
Candidates who successfully purchase their e-PINs before the February 26 deadline will still have until February 28, 2026, to complete their registration at accredited Computer-Based Test centres. After this date, the registration portal will close completely.
Over 1.5 million candidates have already registered, but JAMB says registration centres are currently operating below capacity, handling less than 30 percent of the 100,000 candidates they can process daily. The Board is urging prospective candidates not to wait until the final days to avoid congestion and potential technical issues.
JAMB’s examination calendar is part of a nationally coordinated schedule agreed upon by examination bodies across Nigeria, meaning there is no room for any adjustment or extension. Candidates who miss the deadline will not be granted another opportunity.
