The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the sale of application forms for its 2026 Direct Entry admission exercise to May 8, 2026, in a move aimed at ensuring that eligible candidates are not denied access to tertiary education.
The development was disclosed on Tuesday by JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, through his X (formerly Twitter) account, where he announced the extension and additional registration measures introduced by the Board.
The new deadline shifts the earlier closing date and gives prospective candidates more time to complete their registration amid increased demand at some designated centres.
Benjamin said the decision was part of JAMB’s commitment to widening access to tertiary education and ensuring that no qualified candidate is left behind due to registration bottlenecks.
He explained that the extension forms part of the Board’s efforts to accommodate all eligible applicants and ease the pressure on existing registration centres.
As part of the new measures, JAMB also approved five additional centres across the country for the Direct Entry registration exercise.
The newly approved centres include the Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL), Mini Campus of the University of Ilorin in Kwara State; Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State; Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State; Prof. Usman E-Learning Centre, Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo; and Human Development Initiatives, Grace House, Iwaya, Lagos.
The Board said the Lagos centre will begin operations on April 30.
JAMB also reminded prospective applicants that its offices nationwide, including Professional Registration Centres and Professional Testing Centres, remain open for the ongoing exercise.
Direct Entry serves as an alternative admission route for candidates who already possess advanced qualifications such as diplomas, NCE, IJMB, JUPEB and other recognised A-Level certificates, allowing them to secure admission directly into the second year of university programmes.
The extension comes as JAMB continues to tighten its verification system for Direct Entry applicants, following repeated concerns over fake A-Level certificates and irregular admissions.
In recent years, the Board has strengthened its screening procedures and introduced more stringent verification measures to protect the integrity of the admission process.
The decision to extend the registration period is expected to provide relief for candidates who have faced delays, logistical issues, or congestion at registration centres, particularly in high-demand states.
Stakeholders in the education sector have repeatedly urged JAMB to decentralise the registration process to make it easier for candidates across the country.
With the addition of five new centres and the extension of the registration deadline, the Board appears to be responding directly to those concerns.
Prospective candidates have now been advised to complete their applications before the new deadline, as there is no indication yet that the Board will extend the exercise beyond May 8.
