The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the deadline for candidates with outstanding admission offers from 2021 to 2026 to accept or reject their admissions.
The new deadline is Wednesday, September 30, 2026, replacing the earlier deadline of Monday, August 31, 2026.
JAMB announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday by its Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocol, Fabian Benjamin.
The board described the extension as the final opportunity for candidates with pending admission offers to indicate whether they want to accept or reject them.
JAMB Sets September 30 Deadline
According to JAMB, candidates who have not yet accepted or rejected their regular or CUIIA admission offers are advised to complete the process before the new deadline.
The board urged affected candidates not to wait until the last day, warning that failure to take action could have consequences for the status of their admissions.
JAMB stated that candidates who accept their outstanding admission offers would be able to proceed with printing and obtaining their admission letters.
However, candidates who reject their offers will have their admission dashboards reverted to “Not Admitted.”
The board explained that this would enable it to update its records and ensure that its national admission data accurately reflects the current status of candidates.
What Candidates Who Have Changed Institutions Should Do
JAMB also provided guidance for candidates who are no longer studying at the institution where their previous admission was offered.
The board said candidates who have moved to another institution or are currently studying a different programme from the one attached to their outstanding admission may accept the previous admission and subsequently apply for the appropriate correction or deletion.
According to JAMB, this process will allow it to properly update the candidates’ admission status and records.
Candidates Pursuing Second Degree Can Reject Old Admission
The board also addressed candidates who are currently pursuing a second degree but still have an earlier admission offer that remains unaccepted.
JAMB said such candidates may reject the previous admission offer and continue with their current programme.
It further clarified that candidates who have secured admission during the 2026 admission exercise will not be adversely affected if they reject an earlier outstanding admission offer.
“Such candidates may reject the previous admission offer, and doing so will have no adverse effect whatsoever on their 2026 admission,” the board stated.
JAMB Warns Against Missing Final DeadlineJAMB said the extension was granted to give affected candidates one final opportunity to clearly indicate their decisions and to help the board maintain accurate and reliable national admission records.
However, the board warned that there will be no further extension after September 30, 2026.
It said all outstanding admission offers from 2021 to 2026 that remain neither accepted nor rejected by the expiration of the deadline will automatically be reverted to “Not Admitted” status.
JAMB therefore advised all affected candidates to take immediate action rather than wait until the deadline.
The board stressed that failure to accept an admission offer within the stipulated period would render the offer invalid.
Key Information for JAMB Candidates
– Old admission offers covered: 2021–2026
– New deadline: September 30, 2026
– Previous deadline: August 31, 2026
– Candidates affected: Those with outstanding admission offers yet to be accepted or rejected
– Accepted admission: Candidates can proceed to print their admission letters
– Rejected admission: Dashboard will revert to “Not Admitted”
– Further extension: JAMB says there will be no further opportunity after September 30, 2026.
