UTME 2026: JAMB increases CBT centres by 20%, now 1,000 nationwide

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed that Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centres have now been increased from less than 800 in the previous year to 1,000. The development comes amid preparations for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to Dr Muftau Bello, a Director in the office of the Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, while presenting the update before the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, the significant increase is aimed at improving access and easing logistics for candidates nationwide.

JAMB described the increase as a welcome development aimed at ensuring the integrity of the board and that of UTME. This is related to enhancing efficiency at CBT centres and promoting compliance with national examination standards.

The board noted that accreditation and registration of CBT centres were rigorous and done to assess the suitability of each CBT centre for the conduct of its examination.

The accreditation team included chief external examiners such as vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts, as well as technical advisers, JAMB state coordinators and technical officers from the board. 

Also Read: JAMB warns tertiary institutions against admission process outside CAPS.

JAMB targets more registrations 

By adding more accredited CBT Centres nationwide, JAMB is expanding its registration base and ensuring placement of candidates for the UTME is more flexible and well structured compared with the previous year.

While admonishing candidates to register before the deadline, the board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, stated that there will be no extension of the registration deadline this time around.

While giving updates last week, he expressed concerns over the low utilisation of the CBT centres’ capacity nationwide during the registration period. He admonishes candidates expecting an extension to the deadline, as JAMB did in previous years, that there will be no extension this time around. 

“The board has a daily registration capacity of 100,000 candidates, yet registration centres across the country are currently operating at barely 30 per cent of that capacity. This indicates that a significant number of prospective candidates are yet to take advantage of the opportunity to register,” he said. 

As of Tuesday, 17 February, JAMB said it has registered 1.5 million candidates for the 2026 UTME. The examination board will be aiming to beat the 1.95 million candidates recorded for the 2025 UTME.

The sale of UTME ePINs, which began on January 19, runs until February 26, while actual registration will take place from January 26 to February 28 at all approved CBT centres. 

The close of mock selection is set for February 16, while DE application sales and ePIN generation will start on March 2 and close on April 25. Registration will also be available at JAMB offices nationwide.

The 2026 UTME is scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026. The optional Mock-UTME is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, 2026. 

The post UTME 2026: JAMB increases CBT centres by 20%, now 1,000 nationwide first appeared on Technext.