At least two million candidates are participating in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which commenced nationwide on Thursday.

The examination, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is scheduled to begin on April 16 across accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.

According to the agency, a total of 2,243,816 candidates registered for this year’s exercise, representing a 10.5 per cent increase from the 2.03 million recorded in 2025.

The examination is being held across accredited CBT centres, with sessions divided into four daily slots to ease congestion and enhance verification processes.

JAMB has deployed biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems to ensure the credibility and integrity of the examination.

It stated that candidates whose biometric details could not be verified would be rescheduled to sit the exam at designated centres.

Candidates have been advised to print their examination slips from the official JAMB portal to confirm their dates, venues, and times, and to arrive at least one hour before their scheduled sessions.

In a further move to improve efficiency, JAMB reviewed the examination timetable ahead of the exercise.

Under the revised schedule, first-session candidates are to arrive at 7:00 a.m., second-session candidates at 9:00 a.m., third-session candidates at 11:00 a.m., while the fourth session remains at 2:00 p.m.

The board noted that candidates were duly notified via SMS, email, and their online profiles.

A breakdown of registration figures shows that Lagos State recorded the highest number of candidates with 381,814, followed by Ogun (137,156), Oyo (122,662), Kaduna (103,498), and the Federal Capital Territory (102,961).

Other states include Rivers (105,584) and Kano (83,167), while Borno (13,483) and Zamfara (14,861) recorded the lowest figures.

Outside Nigeria, participation remains minimal, with Côte d’Ivoire leading with 32 candidates, followed by Equatorial Guinea (16), Burkina Faso (14), and the United Kingdom (12).

Countries such as Gambia, Ghana, and South Africa recorded fewer than ten candidates each.

Ahead of the examination, JAMB increased the number of CBT centres to about 1,000 nationwide to improve accessibility and logistics.

However, the board delisted 23 centres across several states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta, Edo, and Plateau, due to technical deficiencies observed during the mock UTME.

The board said the decision was necessary to maintain operational standards and safeguard the integrity of the exercise.

Police Deployment

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has dismissed reports of insecurity at some examination centres, describing such claims as unfounded while acknowledging public concerns.

The police said additional security personnel, including patrol teams, perimeter surveillance units, and rapid response squads, had been deployed nationwide to ensure a safe environment for candidates.

The agency added that it is working in collaboration with other security agencies to monitor and address any potential threats.

The force assured candidates and parents of adequate security, urging candidates to comply with examination guidelines, arrive early, and report any suspicious activities.

It also advised the public to disregard unverified reports on social media and rely on official communication channels.

JAMB reiterated its commitment to transparency in the admission process, warning candidates against accepting admissions outside its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

The board emphasised that any admission conducted outside CAPS is illegal and will not be recognised.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has granted another extension for its Student Loan Application Portal to accommodate institutions that requested additional time for the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to a statement signed by NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, on Thursday, the extension applies only to institutions that submitted formal requests, allowing eligible students extra time to complete their applications.

“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved an extension of its Student Loan Application Portal for institutions that have formally requested additional time for the 2025/2026 academic session,” the statement read.

Speaking on the development, NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akintunde Sawyerr, reiterated the Fund’s commitment to ensuring that eligible students at participating institutions can access the student loan programme.

“NELFUND remains committed to ensuring that eligible students across participating institutions have the opportunity to access the student loan programme,” he said.

The Fund urged students in the affected institutions to take advantage of the extension and submit their applications through the official portal.

It also emphasised its dedication to transparency, accountability, and providing sustainable financing solutions aimed at removing financial barriers to higher education in Nigeria.

Established to administer the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, NELFUND was enacted into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024.

The initiative provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition and living expenses.

Beneficiaries are required to repay the loans after completing their education and securing employment, with the aim of increasing access to higher education for students from low-income backgrounds.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially commenced registration for the 2026 Direct Entry (DE) admissions exercise.

In a statement shared on its verified X account on Monday, the examination body announced that the sale of application documents began on March 2, 2026, and will close on April 25, 2026.

JAMB advised all prospective Direct Entry candidates to note that registration services are strictly available at designated JAMB offices nationwide.

“This is to inform prospective DE applicants that the sale of application documents has commenced today, Monday, March 2, 2026, and will end on Saturday, April 25, 2026,” the board stated.

“Please note that this service can be accessed only at our offices nationwide.”

Candidates seeking admission through the Direct Entry mode are therefore urged to complete their registration within the stipulated period to avoid missing the deadline.