JAMB 2026 UTME Registration: 2.24 Million Candidates Registered Across Nigeria
Summary
JAMB says 2,243,816 candidates registered for 2026 UTME. See the full state-by-state breakdown, foreign-centre figures, and the April 16 exam date.
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 is 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 |
Complete State-by-State Breakdown
| State | Candidates |
|---|---|
| Abia | 44,394 |
| Adamawa | 31,321 |
| Akwa Ibom | 47,079 |
| Anambra | 34,787 |
| Bauchi | 27,963 |
| Bayelsa | 27,245 |
| Benue | 60,860 |
| Borno | 33,483 |
| Cross River | 34,605 |
| Delta | 77,670 |
| Ebonyi | 19,662 |
| Edo | 59,605 |
| Ekiti | 31,643 |
| Enugu | 50,305 |
| FCT Abuja | 302,963 |
| Gombe | 23,012 |
| Imo | 42,170 |
| Jigawa | 28,166 |
| Kaduna | 303,498 |
| Kano | 83,167 |
| Katsina | 37,973 |
| Kebbi | 36,533 |
| Kogi | 46,783 |
| Kwara | 64,988 |
| Lagos | 321,814 |
| Nasarawa | 65,739 |
| Niger | 47,679 |
| Ogun | 137,156 |
| Ondo | 66,270 |
| Osun | 64,894 |
| Oyo | 122,662 |
| Plateau | 62,440 |
| Rivers | 105,584 |
| Sokoto | 20,243 |
| Taraba | 38,093 |
| Yobe | 20,583 |
| Zamfara | 14,841 |
International Registrations
JAMB also recorded registrations from 10 foreign countries:
- Burkina Faso: 14 candidates
- Cameroon: 11 candidates
- Cote d'Ivoire: 32 candidates
- Equatorial Guinea: 16 candidates
- Gambia: 3 candidates
- Ghana: 5 candidates
- Republic of Benin: 7 candidates
- Saudi Arabia: 10 candidates
- South Africa: 5 candidates
- United Kingdom: 12 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
Official Reference
JAMB published the 2026 UTME registration statistics, state-by-state totals, and foreign-centre figures in its March 2, 2026 bulletin.
Preparing for UTME? Practice with past questions using Ulearngo UTME - an offline CBT platform with timer-based exams that simulate the real JAMB environment.
