JAMB to begin 2026 UTME registration in first quarter
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said that registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will commence in the first quarter of 2026.
The announcement was contained in the Board’s latest bulletin, which stated that all preparatory processes ahead of the registration exercise have been concluded.
According to examination body, early preparations are aimed at ensuring a smooth, secure and well-coordinated registration process across the country. The Board said it has completed all accreditation, validation and security checks for centres, personnel and other stakeholders involved in the 2026 UTME registration.
The Board explained that lessons drawn from post-registration and examination reviews of the 2025 UTME informed several technological and operational improvements being introduced for the 2026 exercise.
These measures, it said, are designed to strengthen system integrity and minimise irregularities.
In the bulletin, the Board issued a stern warning to individuals or groups planning to engage in registration or examination malpractice, stressing that such actions would attract severe legal consequences.
“The The management of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has concluded all necessary accreditation, validation and security checks for centres, personnel and other stakeholders to be involved in the registration exercise for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination,” the bulletin stated.
JAMB disclosed that more than 30 suspects linked to previous registration and examination malpractices are currently being prosecuted, with nearly 20 already in correctional custody. The Board warned that arrests could occur during or even after the 2026 UTME, as investigations into infractions are continuous.
The Board also urged the public to avoid involvement in JAMB activities unless they are duly registered candidates or accredited stakeholders.
Reassuring candidates, JAMB said application documents for the 2026 UTME would be released early in the year, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability and the integrity of the examination system.
The bulletin further revealed that investigations conducted after the 2025 UTME uncovered 6,458 results linked to suspected high-tech cheating.
A 23-member special committee set up to probe technology-driven malpractice identified 4,251 cases of finger blending, a biometric fraud technique, and 192 cases of AI-assisted impersonation through image morphing.
While acknowledging the vulnerabilities exposed by these infractions, JAMB maintained that actual malpractice during the examination remained relatively low.
It added that the Federal Government has approved a three-year ban for candidates found guilty of examination malpractice.
JAMB said the lessons learned from the 2025 UTME would guide improvements for the 2026 exercise, with enhanced technological and operational measures aimed at delivering a more secure and largely infraction-free registration and examination process.
