JAMB has extended the 2026 Direct Entry registration deadline to May 8, 2026, while also approving five additional registration centres to expand access for prospective candidates across Nigeria.
The extension was announced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in a statement issued by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin.
The decision comes as the Board seeks to ease registration pressure and improve access for candidates ahead of the 2026 admission cycle.
What they are saying
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board explained that the extension of the Direct Entry registration deadline and the approval of additional centres were aimed at ensuring broader access to tertiary education opportunities.
The statement, issued by Fabian Benjamin, highlighted the Board’s position on improving accessibility and reducing pressure on existing registration points.
- “As part of measures aimed at ensuring that no Direct Entry prospective candidate is denied the opportunity to access tertiary education in the country, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the sale of Direct Entry (DE) application documents to 8th May 2026 from the earlier closing date.”
- “In furtherance of its objective of expanding access to tertiary education, the Board had also approved five additional centres to register applicants for the Direct Entry exercise in areas with much pressure.”
The Board noted that the extension is intended to provide candidates with additional time to complete their registration without disruption or exclusion.
More insights
As part of the expansion strategy, JAMB approved five new registration centres located in high-demand areas across Nigeria to ease congestion and improve accessibility for Direct Entry applicants.
The newly approved centres include institutions and facilities spread across Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, and Lagos States.
- Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL), Mini Campus, University of Ilorin, Kwara State
- Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State
- Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State
- Prof. Usman E-Learning Centre, Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo State
- Human Development Initiatives (Grace House), Iwaya, Sabo, Onike, Lagos State (operations begin April 30, 2026)
JAMB also confirmed that its zonal and state offices, alongside Professional Registration Centres (PRCs) and Professional Testing Centres (PTCs), remain active for ongoing Direct Entry registration.
The Board said the expansion is designed to reduce bottlenecks and ensure equitable access to registration services across the country.
Get up to speed
The 2026 UTME has been concluded, having run from April 16 to April 25, 2026, across Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.
Earlier in the exercise, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board reported strong early results within the first three days of the examination.
- The Board released 632,752 results for candidates who sat the examination on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
- It subsequently released 1,264,940 results for candidates who wrote the April 17 and 18 examinations.
- A total of 1,897,692 results were released from the first three days of the UTME
- Over 2.2 million candidates registered for the 2026 UTME exercise.
- The examination was conducted across more than 1,000 CBT centres nationwide.
The Board noted that the UTME was structured to run over a 10-day period, supported by expanded infrastructure to accommodate the large number of candidates.
What you should know
The Federal Government has also continued investments in JAMB’s Computer-Based Test infrastructure, with over N1.3 billion allocated in the 2026 Appropriation Bill for CBT and ICT-related projects across several states.
The funding is targeted at expanding examination capacity and improving digital infrastructure used for registration and testing.
- N420 million allocated for ICT centres in Igbotako, Ondo State
- N336.7 million for CBT centres and ICT services in Lagos (Eric Moore and Epe Grammar School)
- N280 million for a CBT centre in Emohua, Rivers State
- N175 million for ICT and CBT centre development in Gombe State
- N87.15 million for ICT infrastructure upgrades for registration systems
- N28 million for CBT centre construction in Abia State
The investments are part of broader efforts to strengthen examination integrity, expand access to tertiary education entry systems, and reduce operational challenges during peak registration periods.
