ABUJA — The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially apologized to candidates for the delay in releasing the second batch of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results.

The results, which belong to candidates who sat for the ABUJA — The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially apologized to candidates for the delay in releasing the second batch of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results. The results, which belong to candidates who sat for the examination on Friday, April 17, 2026, were originally scheduled for release on Saturday. The delay triggered widespread frustration and anxiety among candidates and parents nationwide. Reason for the Delay In a statement issued on Sunday morning, April 19, JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin attributed the setback to an official engagement involving the board's Chief Executive. "We sincerely apologize for the delay in releasing the results for Friday, 17th April, which is the second batch in the series as earlier promised. Our Chief Executive was unavailable due to an important engagement but would be in the office today, and we assure you that the results will be released later today, surely before nightfall," the statement read. Current Status and Next Steps The board confirmed that the situation has been resolved and that results will be accessible to candidates by the end of the day. This follow-up comes after the successful release of the first batch, which included 632,788 results for candidates who wrote the exam on Thursday, April 16. How to Check Your Result Candidates are advised to use the board’s SMS-based platform, as result slips are not yet available for physical printing. Method Instruction Primary SMS Code Send UTMERESULT to 55019 Secondary SMS Code Send UTMERESULT to 66019 Requirement Use the phone number linked to your JAMB registration Warning Against Falsification JAMB also issued a stern warning against result manipulation. The board revealed that security agencies have already arrested two candidates and a parent for allegedly using AI and other electronic means to forge scores. The Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, noted that despite minor technical hitches in approximately 16 out of 980 centers nationwide, the overall conduct of the 2026 UTME has been largely successful, with over 1.7 million candidates examined within the first three days. examination on Friday, April 17, 2026, were originally scheduled for release on Saturday. The delay triggered widespread frustration and anxiety among candidates and parents nationwide.

Reason for the Delay

In a statement issued on Sunday morning, April 19, JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin attributed the setback to an official engagement involving the board's Chief Executive.

"We sincerely apologize for the delay in releasing the results for Friday, 17th April, which is the second batch in the series as earlier promised. Our Chief Executive was unavailable due to an important engagement but would be in the office today, and we assure you that the results will be released later today, surely before nightfall," the statement read.

Current Status and Next Steps

The board confirmed that the situation has been resolved and that results will be accessible to candidates by the end of the day. This follow-up comes after the successful release of the first batch, which included 632,788 results for candidates who wrote the exam on Thursday, April 16.

How to Check Your Result

Candidates are advised to use the board’s SMS-based platform, as result slips are not yet available for physical printing.

Warning Against Falsification

JAMB also issued a stern warning against result manipulation. The board revealed that security agencies have already arrested two candidates and a parent for allegedly using AI and other electronic means to forge scores.

The Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, noted that despite minor technical hitches in approximately 16 out of 980 centers nationwide, the overall conduct of the 2026 UTME has been largely successful, with over 1.7 million candidates examined within the first three days.