The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has finally broken its silence over the widespread delays and late-night examination sessions that left thousands of candidates stranded across Nigeria during the ongoing 2026 WASSCE.
The examination body said the disruptions were caused by a combination of factors, including protests over the recent abduction of schoolchildren, security challenges, and a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of three WAEC officials.
The delays sparked outrage nationwide after students in several states reportedly waited hours before sitting for scheduled papers, with some candidates in Oyo State forced to complete their examinations under torchlights and mobile phone flashlights.
Following public criticism, WAEC launched an internal investigation into the incidents and said its findings revealed that the situation was largely beyond the council’s control.
According to WAEC, one of the biggest setbacks was a fatal crash along the Gombe-Yola highway, where three officials transporting sensitive examination materials lost their lives while on official duty.
“The delay is the direct result of a devastating motor accident which tragically claimed the lives of three of our dedicated personnel who were transporting sensitive examination materials,” WAEC said.
The council explained that the tragedy significantly disrupted its distribution schedule, forcing officials to activate emergency contingency plans to ensure the examinations still took place.
WAEC also linked part of the disruption to protests that erupted following the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states, saying the demonstrations affected the movement and timely delivery of examination materials in some locations.
The examination body noted that security concerns in several parts of the country further complicated logistics and operations.
Despite the challenges, WAEC said staff members worked tirelessly to minimise the impact on candidates and complete the examination process.
“While mourning this loss, our staff worked around the clock to deploy emergency measures to ensure the examination was conducted,” the council stated.
WAEC also disclosed that other operational issues, including late candidate registrations and examination planning adjustments, contributed to some of the delays experienced across centres.
The council, however, assured candidates, parents and schools that corrective measures have already been implemented to prevent a repeat of the situation during the remaining papers.
WAEC added that examinations conducted after the disruptions showed significant improvement, while thanking the Federal Ministry of Education, state governments, security agencies and other stakeholders for their support.
Reaffirming its commitment to maintaining examination standards, the council pledged to continue safeguarding the credibility and integrity of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Source: WAEC Nigeria
