JAMB gives new update on 2026 UTME registration

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released fresh details on the registration process for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), including timelines, monitoring measures, and eligibility requirements for candidates nationwide.

The update was given in Lagos on Saturday during a meeting with Commissioners for Education ahead of the UTME and Direct Entry exercises. The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said the sale of UTME application documents would begin before the official registration window opens.

He said, “The sale of UTME application document which is the ePIN, will start earlier than commencement of actual registration which is January 19 to February 26.

“Actual UTME registration period is between January 26 to Febuary 28 at all approved CBT Centres.”

Oloyede also disclosed that the option to select the mock examination would close on February 16, while the sale of Direct Entry application documents and ePIN vending would run from March 2 to April 25.

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“The close of mock selection is February 16 hile the sale of DE application documents and E-PIN vending will commence on March 2, and close by April 25,” he said.

He added that UTME results for underage candidates would only be released after the completion of the full evaluation process, unlike previous years. According to him, this is to ensure proper assessment of candidates seeking age waivers.

On monitoring, Oloyede said all CBT centres involved in the registration exercise would be tracked live from JAMB headquarters.

He warned that “any centre whose registration activities cannot be viewed from the headquarters will not be paid, while such registration may be invalidated.”

The registrar revealed that 924 centres had been screened and provisionally listed, noting that each would still undergo a final test before full accreditation.

“They will go through the final test before final accreditation,” he said.

Oloyede also clarified that candidates are not required to pay any service charges to CBT centres, stressing that only fees approved by the board apply.

Addressing concerns over examination locations, he said JAMB does not post candidates to towns outside those selected during registration.

He advised candidates to complete their registration early, explaining that delays could affect their chances of securing preferred towns.

“The choice of a group of towns implies that candidates can be posted to any of the towns in the chosen group,” he added.

Oloyede further warned candidates to declare any previous registration or admission records with the board, noting that cases of examination malpractice were recorded during the last UTME.

He said it is a criminal offence to run more than one undergraduate programme at the same time.

“Failure to disclose such prior admission is an offence which will be sanctioned,” he said.

On age requirements, the registrar stated that candidates must be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to be eligible for the UTME and admission consideration.

He explained that underage candidates would only be considered after undergoing a strict evaluation process.

He said, “Underage candidates who will be less than 16 years old by 30th September, 2026, will undergo an intensive evaluation to determine their eligibility for a waiver, and such candidates must have scored not less than 80 per cent in each of UTME/A’LEVEL, PUTME, SSCE and in the exceptional candidate assessment.”