Over 2.2 Million Candidates Sit 2026 UTME Nationwide
Over 2.2 Million Candidates Sit 2026 UTME Nationwide
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has officially commenced nationwide, with over 2.2 million candidates participating in this year’s highly anticipated university entrance examination organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). According to the examination body, 2,243,816 candidates registered for the exercise, representing a 10.5 percent increase compared to the 2.03 million candidates recorded in 2025, underscoring the growing demand for tertiary education across Nigeria. The examination began on Thursday across 966 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide, featuring enhanced security, biometric verification, and real-time monitoring systems aimed at safeguarding the credibility of the process
JAMB disclosed that candidates undergo mandatory biometric verification before being allowed into examination halls. Candidates whose biometric details fail verification will be rescheduled to sit the examination at designated centres. The agency explained that the deployment of advanced monitoring technology is intended to prevent impersonation, malpractice, and other irregularities during the examination. To reduce congestion and improve operational efficiency, candidates are scheduled across four daily sessions
- 7:00 a.m. – First session
- 9:00 a.m. – Second session
- 11:00 a.m. – Third session
- 2:00 p.m. – Fourth session
Candidates were advised to print their examination slips from the official JAMB portal and arrive at least one hour before their scheduled examination time.
JAMB data showed significant participation across states:
- Lagos State recorded the highest number with 381,814 candidates
- Ogun State – 137,156
- Oyo State – 122,662
- Kaduna State – 103,498
- Federal Capital Territory – 102,961
- Rivers State – 105,584
- Kano State – 83,167
States with the lowest registrations include Borno with 13,483 candidates and Zamfara with 14,861.
International participation remains limited, with small numbers of candidates writing the examination in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, and the United Kingdom. The Nigeria Police Force announced the deployment of additional security personnel, including patrol teams, surveillance units, and rapid response squads, to ensure a safe and secure examination environment nationwide. Authorities dismissed reports of insecurity at some centres, assuring parents and candidates that adequate safety measures are in place while urging the public to rely only on verified information. Ahead of the exercise, JAMB expanded the number of CBT centres nationwide to improve accessibility. However, 23 centres were delisted following technical deficiencies discovered during the mock UTME exercise. The board noted that the decision was necessary to maintain operational standards and protect examination integrity. JAMB reiterated that all admissions must be processed through its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), warning candidates against accepting admission offers outside the platform, which it described as illegal and invalid.
The 2026 UTME is expected to play a decisive role in determining admission placements into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide amid increasing competition for limited tertiary institution spaces.
