If you still haven’t completed your JAMB 2026 registration, this is your final wake-up call.
Thousands of candidates across Nigeria are currently rushing to accredited CBT centres as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board moves to shut down the sale of UTME e-PINs for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
As of Tuesday, February 17, the examination body has already registered over 1.5 million candidates for the 2026 UTME exercise, according to the Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede. (Daily Report)
This development confirms that the 2026 admission race is already in full motion and for candidates who delay beyond the deadline, there may be no second chance.
JAMB Confirms February 26 Deadline for UTME e-PIN Sales
The Board has officially announced that the sale of UTME e-PINs will end at 12:00 midnight on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
This e-PIN remains the most critical requirement for UTME registration, as candidates must obtain it before they can proceed to any accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre for biometric capture and full registration.
While candidates who already purchased their e-PIN before the deadline will still have a short grace period to complete their registration, JAMB has made it clear that:
- New e-PIN purchases will stop on February 26
- UTME registration itself will close on February 28, 2026
- Late registration will not be permitted
In its official communication, the Board ruled out any possibility of extending the deadline, stating that its registration schedule aligns with a nationally coordinated examination calendar agreed upon by other public examination bodies across Nigeria. (Daily Report)
This means candidates who fail to act before the deadline risk missing the entire 2026 UTME examination cycle.
Why JAMB Says There Will Be No Extension in 2026
Many candidates often assume that JAMB will extend registration timelines due to high turnout or technical challenges.
However, the Board has stressed that the UTME registration window was strategically structured to avoid clashes with other national examinations conducted by:
- WAEC
- NECO
- NABTEB
- Other admission-related screening processes
Because of this coordination, extending UTME registration could disrupt the broader academic calendar for tertiary admissions in Nigeria.
JAMB also revealed that although accredited CBT centres nationwide have the capacity to register up to 100,000 candidates daily, they currently operate at less than 30% of that capacity. (Daily Report)
This suggests that many prospective candidates have either delayed the process or have yet to begin registration, a situation that could lead to last-minute congestion, technical issues, or costly mistakes.
Over 1.5 Million Candidates Already Registered
With more than 1.5 million candidates successfully enrolled so far, competition for admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in 2026 is expected to be intense.
Each year, UTME serves as the primary pathway for admission into:
- Federal universities
- State universities
- Private universities
- Polytechnics
- Colleges of education
As Nigeria’s centralised admission-coordinating body, JAMB validates every admission through its Central Admission Processing System (CAPS). Any admission not processed through CAPS will not be recognised as valid within the country’s tertiary education framework.
Risks of Waiting Until the Final Days
JAMB has strongly advised candidates against waiting until the final days of registration.
Delaying registration may result in:
- Inability to purchase e-PIN before the deadline
- Network downtime at CBT centres
- Limited availability of preferred exam towns
- Biometric capture failures
- Errors in subject combinations or personal details
According to the Board, candidates who encounter avoidable challenges after the deadline should not expect any appeals for extension once the registration window closes. (Daily Report)
In previous admission cycles, thousands of candidates missed UTME simply because they delayed registration until the final week.
What Candidates Should Do Immediately
Candidates who have not yet completed their registration should take the following steps without delay:
- Generate their JAMB profile code using their NIN
- Purchase their UTME e-PIN from approved vendors
- Visit an accredited CBT centre for biometric capture
- Select their subject combination and exam town
- Print and securely store their registration slip
Early registration helps candidates secure better CBT centre options and reduces the likelihood of registration errors that could affect their examination or admission chances later in the year.
With the February 26 e-PIN deadline fast approaching, candidates must treat UTME registration as a time-sensitive process.
Missing the registration window means waiting until the next admission cycle in 2027.
As the number of registered candidates continues to rise beyond 1.5 million, those who act early stand a better chance of completing a stress-free registration and focusing fully on examination preparation.
For many students, gaining admission in 2026 will not depend solely on how well they perform in the UTME, but also on how quickly and accurately they complete the registration process before the deadline.
