JAMB Issues Caution To CBT Centres As 2026 UTME Registration Begins Monday

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has confirmed the commencement of registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), introducing stricter operational guidelines aimed at improving transparency, reducing malpractice, and enhancing candidate experience nationwide.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement session in Lagos, Registrar Ishaq Oloyede explained that the registration exercise will run within a fixed timeframe across accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres. The board emphasised that preparation activities, including access to application credentials, would begin before the formal registration period.

According to the examination body, candidates must first obtain the electronic Personal Identification Number (ePIN), which serves as the gateway to completing UTME registration. The sale of this application document opens earlier than the main registration window to allow applicants sufficient time to prepare before visiting approved centres.

Beyond UTME registration, JAMB also released timelines for other admission-related processes. Candidates wishing to participate in the optional mock examination must indicate their interest before a specified deadline, while Direct Entry (DE) applicants will begin purchasing forms shortly after the UTME registration phase closes.

A notable policy adjustment announced by the board concerns underage candidates. Unlike previous years when results were released immediately, performance outcomes for applicants seeking age waivers will now undergo additional scrutiny before publication, ensuring only genuinely exceptional candidates qualify for consideration.

Strengthened Supervision Of CBT Centres

One of the major highlights of the announcement is JAMB’s introduction of real-time monitoring technology. Every accredited CBT centre will be connected to surveillance systems supervised directly from headquarters in Abuja.

Centres unable to transmit live registration activities risk severe consequences, including invalidation of registrations and withholding of payments. The board disclosed that hundreds of centres have received provisional approval but must still pass a final performance evaluation before full accreditation is granted.

Key Registration Guidelines Reorganised

Instead of listing instructions traditionally, JAMB grouped its compliance requirements around candidate responsibility:

Only officially approved registration fees should be paid; extra service charges are prohibited.
Early registration improves the chances of securing preferred examination locations.
Candidates must provide accurate academic and admission history details.
Simultaneous enrolment in multiple undergraduate programmes constitutes an offence.

The board clarified that examination centres are assigned strictly based on towns selected by candidates during registration rather than arbitrary placement decisions.

Eligibility Rules And Special Waiver Conditions

For the 2026 admission cycle, the standard age benchmark remains unchanged. Applicants are generally expected to be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026. However, younger candidates may still qualify through an exceptional performance pathway requiring outstanding scores across multiple academic assessments and screening stages.

JAMB warned that incomplete disclosure of previous admissions or examination records could attract disciplinary sanctions, reiterating its commitment to preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary admission system.

Commentary & Analysis: Technology, Accountability And Admission Reform

The latest measures signal JAMB’s continued transition toward technology-driven examination management. Real-time surveillance of CBT centres represents an attempt to address long-standing concerns about malpractice, unofficial charges, and irregular registration practices.

By tightening age eligibility verification and mandating accurate academic disclosures, the board appears focused on ensuring fairness while discouraging systemic abuse of admission procedures. Analysts note that early registration awareness campaigns may also reduce congestion historically associated with UTME deadlines.

Overall, the reforms reflect a broader institutional effort to modernise Nigeria’s university admission process — balancing accessibility for candidates with stricter oversight mechanisms designed to restore public confidence in national examinations.

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