The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a revision of arrival times for candidates sitting for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scheduled to commence from April 16.

It said this followed consultations with key stakeholders across the education sector.

In a statement issued by its Public Communications Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the Board said the adjustment was aimed at improving the organisation and efficiency of the nationwide examination process.

According to JAMB, candidates scheduled for the first session, previously expected at 6:30 a.m., are now to report at their examination centres by 7:00 a.m.

Those slated for the second session, earlier fixed for 9:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m., according to the agency, are to arrive uniformly at 9:00 a.m.

For the third session, candidates initially assigned to noon or 1:00 p.m. are now required to report at 11:00 a.m., while the fourth session remains unchanged at 2:00 p.m. arrival time.

“Candidates for 10:00 a.m. are now to arrive 9:00 a.m., while those for 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. are to arrive at 11:00 a.m,” the statement read.

It urged all candidates to strictly comply with the revised schedule, noting that notifications had already been dispatched via email, SMS, and candidates’ individual profiles.

Beyond the schedule adjustment, JAMB issued a strong warning against illegal admissions, declaring that it would no longer mediate disputes involving candidates or institutions that circumvent the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

The Board stated that it had discontinued the practice of intervening in cases where institutions issue admission letters outside CAPS, describing such actions as a violation of established procedures.

“In view of the continued disregard for established admission procedures by some candidates and institutions, the Board unequivocally states that it shall no longer entertain, consider, or process any complaints arising from admissions secured outside CAPS,” the statement read.

JAMB stressed that CAPS remains the only recognised platform for processing admissions into tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It warned that any admission offered or accepted outside the system is “illegal, null and void,” and that candidates who proceed with such offers do so at their own risk.

The Board further cautioned that candidates who accept unauthorised admissions would forfeit any right to seek redress, reinforcing its commitment to maintaining transparency and integrity in the admission process.