Nigerian Defence Academy candidates seeking admission into the 78 Regular Course have until 24 May 2026 to select their preferred state for the nationwide screening test scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2026.

The academy disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday through its official X handle and signed by its Registrar, confirming that the exercise would hold simultaneously across all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Only candidates who scored 180 and above in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and chose the NDA as their first choice institution are eligible to sit the screening test.

The academy stated that qualified applicants would begin receiving emails from May 20, directing them to select their preferred state for the exercise. "The selection of location (State) of choice for the test is to be done by 24 May 2026," the statement read.

Candidates were advised to select the state where they currently reside, as the selection is tied to centre allocation. The NDA confirmed that details of assigned examination centres would be communicated to applicants in the first week of June, ahead of the test date.

The academy assured candidates that all further instructions would be sent through their registered email addresses to prevent misinformation, and urged parents and guardians to monitor official channels and ensure candidates comply strictly with issued guidelines to avoid disqualification.

Applicants who reacted to the announcement on social media expressed optimism about the commencement of the screening phase, though some called for timely communication on venue assignments and logistics.

The screening test is one of the compulsory requirements for admission into the NDA, with successful candidates proceeding to subsequent stages of the process after the examination.