The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has firmly confirmed that the main 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination will proceed as originally planned from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026. This definitive announcement serves to correct the false impression created by a circulating document alleging a shift in the timetable, which the board described as deliberately misleading and malicious.
In an official statement issued on Saturday, the examination body categorically rejected the press release in question. The board urged the general public to ignore the misleading information and focus on the official schedule. “Our attention has been drawn to the malicious press release stating that the 2026 UTME has been postponed. The general public, particularly the candidates, are by this notice informed that the press release is fake and did not emanate from us. Kindly disregard it. All activities on the 2026 UTME continue as scheduled,” it read.
The clarification was released on the board’s verified X account amid heightened concerns regarding examination malpractice. JAMB has been actively combating various forms of fraud, including AI driven syndicates that attempt to impersonate officials and manipulate processes. The 2026 UTME registration exercise had concluded in late February without any extension, setting the stage for the upcoming examination.
This development follows the conduct of the 2026 UTME mock examination held on Saturday, March 28. Data from the exercise shows that 224,597 candidates registered, with 152,586 successfully sitting for the test across 989 Computer Based Test centres nationwide. While the mock was largely successful, certain centres failed to meet the required technical standards, prompting strict regulatory action.
“Over 20 CBT centres that experienced technical challenges have been delisted due to technical inadequacies,” JAMB added.
Concluding its advisory, the board warned candidates to avoid fraudulent individuals or groups on WhatsApp who promise to facilitate score inflation. It stressed that such schemes are criminal and punishable. “Such claims are false and criminal. Any candidate found engaging in these activities risks cancellation of registration or withholding of results,” the board warned. Prospective candidates are encouraged to visit JAMB’s official website and verified social media platforms for accurate information and to avoid falling victim to scams.
Last Updated on April 9, 2026 by Ola Funmilayo
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