JAMB
Published: February 2, 2026
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By Emmanuel Iweh
JAMB Extends 2026 UTME Registration Deadline Amidst Profile Code Challenges
"The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced a crucial two-week extension for the 2026 UTME registration following widespread USSD failures."
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially announced a two-week extension for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration period, which was originally scheduled to end in mid-February. This decision comes as a relief to thousands of candidates across Nigeria who have faced persistent difficulties in generating their unique profile codes. Reports from various geopolitical zones indicated that the 55019 and 66019 USSD codes, managed by major telecommunication providers, suffered from severe latency issues and intermittent downtime due to the unprecedented volume of concurrent requests. This extension is not merely a procedural delay but a strategic response to ensure that no candidate is disenfranchised by technical limitations beyond their control. For candidates, this development has significant implications for their admission chances. Historically, registration extensions lead to a surge in the total number of applicants, which naturally increases the competitiveness of the examination. With more students successfully registering, the 'cut-off' pressure for high-demand courses like Medicine, Law, and Nursing is expected to rise. Furthermore, the extension shifts the entire examination timeline, potentially pushing the main UTME dates closer to the rainy season, which often presents logistical challenges for candidates traveling to distant CBT centers. Analysis of previous cycles suggests that students who utilize this extra time for intensive revision rather than procrastination tend to perform better in the 'Use of English' section, which is often the decider in aggregate scores. However, the delay also means that the window between the UTME and Post-UTME screenings will be shorter, requiring students to begin their university-specific preparations concurrently with their JAMB studies. JAMB Registrar has warned that this is the final extension, advising parents to avoid the last-minute rush that often leads to data entry errors at Computer Based Test (CBT) centers. Candidates are encouraged to verify their O-level results upload on the CAPS portal during this period to avoid future disqualification.
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