The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Nigeria has attributed the disruptions recorded in the ongoing 2026 WASSCE to a combination of logistical and operational challenges.
In a statement on Monday, Moyosola Adesina, Head of Public Affairs for WAEC Nigeria, said the delays were caused by recent protests over abducted schoolchildren, the tragic loss of three WAEC staff members in a road crash in Gombe, and other operational challenges.
The examination process came under scrutiny last week after candidates across several states experienced significant delays in the commencement of scheduled papers.
On Monday, candidates reportedly waited for hours before sitting for the Physics Essay and Objective examinations, which had been scheduled for 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively.
The delays continued on Wednesday during the General Mathematics Objective paper and reached a peak on Thursday when candidates in parts of Oyo State were forced to complete their examinations under poor lighting conditions.
Videos circulating on social media showed students relying on torchlights and mobile phone lights to write their papers, sparking widespread criticism and concern among parents, educators, and the general public.
The disruptions coincided with nationwide protests that began earlier in the week following the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states.
At the same time, WAEC suffered a major operational setback after three officials involved in the transportation of examination materials lost their lives in a road accident along the Gombe-Yola highway.
The officials were reportedly travelling on official assignment when their vehicle collided with a truck.
Responding to the public outcry, WAEC said it immediately launched preliminary investigations into the incidents after receiving reports of the delays from various examination centres.
According to the council, findings from the investigation revealed that the disruptions stemmed from a combination of factors, including the tragic loss of personnel and the challenges posed by the protests and prevailing security concerns in some parts of the country.
“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 reads.
“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 staff members, describing them as committed officers who died in the line of duty.
The council added that, despite the tragedy, emergency measures were activated immediately to minimise disruption to the examination process.
“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 statement added.
WAEC further explained that the security situation and protests triggered by the abduction of schoolchildren also affected the movement and timely distribution of examination materials in some locations.
The council noted that additional challenges arose from issues relating to the finalisation of examination modalities and the late registration of candidates, which affected the preparation and deployment of examination materials.
However, WAEC assured candidates, parents, and other stakeholders that measures had already been put in place to prevent a recurrence and ensure the smooth conduct of the remaining papers.
According to the council, the effectiveness of those interventions was already reflected in the conduct of examinations held on June 5.
WAEC also expressed appreciation to stakeholders, including the federal and state ministries of education, the police, and other security agencies, for their continued cooperation and support.
“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 said.
The examination body reiterated its commitment to preserving the integrity, credibility, and smooth administration of the WASSCE across the country.
