The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has attributed the delays and disruptions recorded during the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to a combination of security concerns, operational challenges and the tragic death of three officials in a road accident.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, the examination body said preliminary investigations revealed that protests over the abduction of schoolchildren and logistical setbacks significantly affected the timely distribution of examination materials across the country.
The explanation followed widespread outrage after candidates in several centres were forced to wait for hours before sitting for their papers, with some students reportedly writing examinations late into the night.
The situation first drew public attention on Monday when candidates experienced delays during the Physics Essay and Objective papers. Similar disruptions were recorded on Wednesday during the General Mathematics Objective examination, while conditions worsened on Thursday when students in parts of Oyo State reportedly completed their papers under poor lighting conditions.
Videos that circulated on social media showed candidates relying on torchlights and mobile phone flashlights to write their examinations, triggering criticism from parents, teachers and education stakeholders.
According to WAEC, the challenges were compounded by protests organised by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) over the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states, which disrupted movement in some areas.
The council also disclosed that three of its officials responsible for transporting sensitive examination materials lost their lives in a fatal accident along the Gombe-Yola highway while on official duty.
“First, the delay is the direct result of a devastating motor accident on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, which tragically claimed the lives of three of our dedicated personnel who were transporting sensitive examination materials interstate,” the statement read.
“This heartbreaking loss, coupled with prevailing regional security challenges, severely compromised our distribution schedule, which inadvertently led to the delayed start times.”
WAEC expressed condolences to the families of the deceased officials, describing them as committed staff members who died in active service.
It said emergency contingency measures were immediately activated to minimise disruptions and ensure examinations continued in affected areas.
“While mourning this loss, our team of indefatigable staff worked around the clock to deploy emergency contingency measures to ensure that the examination was still conducted in the affected areas,” the council stated.
The body also pointed to difficulties related to the finalisation of examination modalities and late registration of candidates, which affected the preparation and deployment of materials.
Despite the setbacks, WAEC assured candidates, parents and stakeholders that corrective measures had been put in place to prevent a recurrence and guarantee the smooth conduct of the remaining papers.
According to the council, signs of improvement were already evident in examinations conducted on Friday, June 5.
WAEC also appreciated the support received from the Federal and State Ministries of Education, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.
“The Council has enjoyed the massive support and cooperation of its stakeholders, including the Federal and State Ministries of Education, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies who have remained worthy partners in the course of WAEC’s delivery on its mandate,” the statement added.
The examination body reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the integrity, credibility and smooth administration of the WASSCE nationwide.
