The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed that it has so far registered over 1.5 million candidates for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), as it confirmed that registration will close on February 26, 2026.
Public Communication Advisor of JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said the e-pins vending for the 2026 UTME would end at 12:00 midnight on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
The e-PIN enables candidates to proceed to accredited centres to complete their registration.
JAMB further clarified that while the sale of e-PINs will close on February 26, actual registration at accredited centres for candidates who have already obtained their e-PINs will cease on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
According to Benjamin, as of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, more than 1.5 million candidates had successfully registered for the examination. Despite having a daily registration capacity of 100,000 candidates, the Board noted that centres across the country are currently operating at barely 30 per cent of that capacity.
The Board expressed concern that a significant number of prospective candidates have yet to take advantage of the ongoing registration exercise.
JAMB stressed that there will be no extension of the registration deadline, explaining that it operates within a nationally coordinated examination calendar agreed upon by all examination bodies in the country.
“The Board’s registration window is strategically scheduled to allow other examination bodies to conduct their own exercises immediately afterwards. Consequently, there is no available window for any extension, even if the Board were inclined to consider one,” the statement added.
The examination body, therefore, advised prospective candidates to obtain their e-PINs before the vending deadline and proceed immediately to accredited centres to complete their registration.
The Board warned that waiting until the final days may lead to avoidable challenges, adding that it would not entertain appeals for extension after the deadline.
JAMB reiterated that the move is aimed at ensuring that no candidate who genuinely intends to sit for the 2026 UTME is shut out due to delay or complacency, urging all prospective candidates to act promptly.