JAMB 2026 UTME Registration: 2.24 Million Candidates Registered Across Nigeria
Summary
JAMB announces 2,243,816 candidates registered for 2026 UTME. Lagos leads with 321,814, followed by Kaduna and FCT. Exam starts April 16, 2026.
JAMB 2026 UTME Registration: 2.24 Million Candidates Registered Across Nigeria
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that 2,243,816 candidates successfully registered for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This marks another significant year for tertiary education admissions in Nigeria.
Registration Statistics by State
Lagos State leads the registration numbers, followed closely by Kaduna and FCT Abuja. Here's the breakdown of the top registering states:
Top 10 States by Registration
| Rank | State | Candidates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lagos | 321,814 |
| 2 | Kaduna | 303,498 |
| 3 | FCT Abuja | 302,963 |
| 4 | Ogun | 137,156 |
| 5 | Oyo | 122,662 |
| 6 | Rivers | 105,584 |
| 7 | Kano | 83,167 |
| 8 | Delta | 77,670 |
| 9 | Nasarawa | 65,739 |
| 10 | Kwara | 64,988 |
International Registrations
JAMB also recorded registrations from 10 countries including:
- United Kingdom: 12 candidates
- Cameroon: 11 candidates
- Ghana: 5 candidates
- South Africa: 5 candidates
JAMB Warns Against Fraudulent Activities
The JAMB Registrar disclosed that the Board discovered fraudulent syndicates using AI-generated fake videos to promise score inflation. Over 100 candidates identified to be involved in such schemes have had their registrations flagged for deletion.
Candidates are advised to avoid any third-party promises of score manipulation, as JAMB has sophisticated systems to detect such fraudulent activities.
2026 UTME Examination Date
The 2026 UTME examination is scheduled to commence on April 16th, 2026. Candidates are advised to:
- Print their examination slips from the JAMB slip printing portal
- Arrive at their examination centres early
- Prepare adequately using JAMB CBT practice platforms
Preparing for UTME? Practice with past questions using Ulearngo UTME - an offline CBT platform with timer-based exams that simulate the real JAMB environment.
