The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has announced that the NDA Screening Test (NDAST) for candidates applying into the 78 Regular Course will hold on Saturday, 13 June 2026 across all states in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the announcement signed by the Academy Registrar on 19 May 2026, only candidates who scored 180 and above in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will be eligible for the screening exercise.
The NDA also stated that candidates must have selected the Nigerian Defence Academy as their first-choice institution during JAMB registration to qualify for the NDAST.
Eligible applicants are expected to receive an email from the Academy on 20 May 2026 requesting them to choose their preferred state for the screening test. The selection process must be completed on or before 24 May 2026.
The Academy advised candidates to choose their state of residence as their preferred test location because the examination will be conducted nationwide.
“Candidates shall subsequently be notified their allocated centre by the first week of June 2026,” the statement added.
The NDA further noted that more details regarding the screening exercise would be communicated to eligible candidates through email.
The announcement is important for thousands of candidates seeking admission into one of Nigeria’s most competitive military institutions, as failure to meet the requirements or complete the state selection process before the deadline may affect participation in the screening exercise.
The Nigerian Defence Academy also reiterated its commitment to equal opportunity for all Nigerians, stressing that the nationwide conduct of the examination is aimed at ensuring fairness and accessibility for candidates across the country.
Applicants are advised to regularly monitor their email addresses and official NDA communication channels for further updates regarding allocated centres and additional instructions ahead of the examination date.
