JAMB extends Direct Entry registration to May 8, adds new centres

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the deadline for its 2026 Direct Entry (DE) registration to May 8, giving prospective candidates more time to complete their applications.

The extension was announced in a statement by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, who said the move is aimed at easing pressure on registration processes and improving access for applicants nationwide.

According to the board, the decision also includes the approval of five additional registration centres in high-demand areas to reduce congestion and make the process more accessible.

“As part of measures to ensure that no Direct Entry prospective candidate is denied the opportunity to access tertiary education, the Board has extended the sale of application documents,” the statement said.

The newly approved centres are located across Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, and Lagos states, including facilities within institutions such as the University of Ilorin and Bells University of Technology, as well as a private registration centre in Iwaya, Lagos.

JAMB noted that its zonal and state offices, alongside Professional Registration Centres (PRCs) and Professional Testing Centres (PTCs), will continue to handle ongoing registrations.

The expansion comes amid efforts by the board to reduce bottlenecks and ensure a smoother registration experience during peak periods.

The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which concluded between April 16 and April 25, recorded over 2.2 million registered candidates and was conducted across more than 1,000 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.

JAMB had earlier released nearly 1.9 million results within the first three days of the examination, reflecting what it described as improved operational efficiency.

Meanwhile, the federal government has continued to invest in JAMB’s digital infrastructure, allocating over N1.3 billion in the 2026 budget for CBT and ICT-related projects across several states.

The investments are expected to expand examination capacity, strengthen system integrity, and improve access to tertiary education entry processes across the country.

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