The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially updated the 2026 UTME arrival time for candidates scheduled for the first session of the upcoming examinations. In a move aimed at streamlining the biometric verification process and reducing early morning logistics hurdles, the board shifted the mandatory arrival window to 7:00 am, providing a bit more breathing room for students and parents across the country.
While the 2026 UTME arrival time has been adjusted from the previous 6:30 am to 7:00 am, JAMB was quick to clarify that the actual examination timing remains the same. The first session will still kick off promptly at 8:30 am and conclude by 10:30 am.
Crucially, candidates are not required to reprint their examination slips. All existing details regarding the venue, date, and subject combinations on current slips remain valid. The adjustment is purely an administrative update to ensure smoother coordination at Computer Based Test (CBT) centres.
According to the Board, the revision to the 2026 UTME arrival time was prompted by the need to:
Reduce Congestion: Minimize the overcrowding often seen at CBT centres during the early hours.
Improve Verification: Allow technical staff more organized time to handle biometric accreditation without the rush.
Boost Coordination: Ensure that all nationwide centres are synchronized before the first batch of the day begins.
The broader UTME timetable remains intact, with four daily sessions scheduled throughout the examination period. Each session will continue to have its own staggered arrival and start times to maintain order.
Education stakeholders have urged candidates to take this new 2026 UTME arrival time seriously. Arriving by 7:00 am ensures that there is ample time for screening, preventing any risk of disqualification due to late arrival once the doors are officially closed for the session.
Reduce Congestion: Minimize the overcrowding often seen at CBT centres during the early hours.
Improve Verification: Allow technical staff more organized time to handle biometric accreditation without the rush.
Boost Coordination: Ensure that all nationwide centres are synchronized before the first batch of the day begins.
The broader UTME timetable remains intact, with four daily sessions scheduled throughout the examination period. Each session will continue to have its own staggered arrival and start times to maintain order.
Education stakeholders have urged candidates to take this new 2026 UTME arrival time seriously. Arriving by 7:00 am ensures that there is ample time for screening, preventing any risk of disqualification due to late arrival once the doors are officially closed for the session.
Disclaimer: Comments and opinions on any part of this website are the opinions of blog commenters or anonymous individuals, and do not reflect Strenuous Blog position.