In a recent announcement, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reassured the public that it is highly unlikely to increase the cost of application documents for the upcoming 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE). This assurance comes as part of the board’s commitment to maintaining affordability and accessibility for prospective candidates.
For the past nine years, JAMB has neither raised the cost of its application documents nor increased registration fees; instead, the board has taken steps to reduce costs for candidates. This information was communicated in JAMB’s Weekly Bulletin released on Monday in Abuja.
In light of these developments, JAMB emphasized the importance of the 2026 registration process, stating, “The Board further assures the public that it is unlikely to increase the cost of application documents for the 2026 UTME/DE exercise, except in cases where it becomes absolutely necessary to maintain the integrity and quality of the examination process.”
This stance aligns with the directive from the President of Nigeria, conveyed through the Honourable Minister of Education, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to human-centered policies that consider the current economic challenges faced by Nigerian families.
JAMB’s clarification aims to assist parents and guardians in planning for their children’s education, highlighting that the financial implications of the 2026 examination process will remain consistent with the previous year. The board encourages early arrangements to ensure timely registration, explicitly stating that there will be no extension of the registration period once it begins.
Despite the recent reductions in fees, JAMB has continued to operate efficiently, yielding substantial remittances to the Federal Government over the years, which reflects its dedication to accountability and effective public-sector financial management.
JAMB reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, transparency, and affordability, while upholding global best practices in the administration of its examinations. As such, the board looks forward to a smooth and efficient registration process for prospective UTME and DE candidates.
Meanwhile, JAMB has advised all prospective candidates desirous of registering for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) to proceed to create their JAMB profiles if they have not already done so.
According to the Board, candidates are strongly advised to first verify that their National Identification Number (NIN) details are accurate and correctly captured before initiating profile creation.
This precaution is necessary to prevent the creation of profiles with incorrect NIN information, which could lead to avoidable challenges during registration and subsequent examination processes.
The Board further disclosed that it has concluded plans to commence the 2026 UTME and Direct Entry (DE) registration at any moment from now.
“Candidates are therefore encouraged to take advantage of this period to prepare adequately by ensuring that all their personal details are correct and consistent across relevant databases.
“JAMB wishes to emphasise that opportunities for correction of candidates’ data are increasingly shrinking due to the numerous infractions often associated with the opening of correction windows.
“In view of this, candidates are advised to take personal responsibility for the accuracy of their details from the onset, as requests for corrections may not always be accommodated.
“The Board counts on the cooperation of all candidates to ensure a smooth, transparent, and hitch-free 2026 UTME/DE registration exercise.”
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