JAMB extends 2026 Direct Entry registration deadline to May 8

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the registration deadline for Direct Entry candidates for the 2026/2027 academic session to May 8, 2026.

The extension, from the earlier April 25 deadline, is aimed at giving eligible candidates more time to complete their registration and participate in the admission process into tertiary institutions.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin, the board said the move is to ensure no prospective candidate is excluded.

“As part of measures aimed at ensuring that no Direct Entry prospective candidate is denied the opportunity to access tertiary education in the country, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has extended the sale of Direct Entry application documents to May 8, 2026,” the statement read.

JAMB also announced the approval of five additional registration centres to ease congestion and improve access in high-demand areas.

The centres include the Centre for Open and Distance Learning, Mini Campus, University of Ilorin, Kwara State; Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State; Olabisi Onabanjo University Centre 1, 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 noted that the Lagos centre will begin operations on April 30, adding that all JAMB offices, Professional Registration Centres, and Professional Testing Centres nationwide remain open for the ongoing exercise.