At least 2.2 million candidates have begun sitting for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as the nationwide exercise officially commenced today.
The examination, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is taking place across accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide, with authorities introducing stricter security and verification measures to safeguard its integrity.
JAMB disclosed that a total of 2,243,816 candidates registered for this year’s UTME, marking a 10.5 per cent increase from the 2.03 million candidates recorded last year.
“The examination is being conducted in four sessions daily to ease congestion and enhance verification processes,” the board said in a statement.
To curb malpractice, JAMB said it has deployed biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems. Candidates whose biometric data cannot be verified will be rescheduled.
“We will not compromise on the credibility of this examination. Any candidate who fails biometric verification will be rescheduled accordingly,” the board stated.
Candidates have also been advised to print their examination slips from the official portal to confirm their schedules and arrive at least one hour before their sessions.
JAMB noted that it reviewed the examination timetable ahead of the exercise to improve efficiency, adding that candidates were duly notified via SMS, email, and their online profiles.
In a bid to enhance logistics, the board increased the number of CBT centres to about 1,000 nationwide. However, it delisted 23 centres across several states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta, Edo, and Plateau, citing technical deficiencies observed during the mock UTME.
“The decision to delist affected centres was necessary to maintain operational standards and ensure a seamless examination process,” JAMB said.
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).
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has dismissed reports of insecurity at some examination centres, describing them as unfounded.
The police, however, acknowledged public concerns and confirmed the deployment of additional personnel nationwide.
“We have deployed patrol teams, perimeter surveillance units, and rapid response squads to ensure a safe environment for candidates,” the force said.
The police added that it is collaborating with other security agencies to monitor potential threats and urged candidates to adhere strictly to examination guidelines.
Parents and candidates were also advised to disregard unverified reports circulating 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).
“Any admission conducted outside CAPS is illegal and will not be recognised,” the board warned.
