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 loss of key personnel.
The examination body said the setbacks were largely caused by nationwide protests over the abduction of schoolchildren, logistical difficulties and a fatal road accident that claimed the lives of three officials responsible for transporting sensitive examination materials.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, WAEC said it launched an immediate investigation after receiving reports of delayed examinations from various centres across the country.
The council was responding to public criticism following incidents that left candidates waiting for several hours before writing some examination papers last week.
The delays affected a number of subjects, including Physics and General Mathematics, with reports indicating that some students sat for examinations late into the evening.
In Oyo State, the situation drew widespread attention after videos emerged online showing candidates using torchlights and mobile phone flashlights to complete their examinations under poor lighting conditions.
The footage triggered reactions from parents, teachers and education stakeholders, many of whom questioned the circumstances that led to the unusual examination conditions.
Providing an explanation, WAEC disclosed that one of the major factors behind the disruption was a tragic road accident involving three of its officials.
“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 said.
“This heartbreaking loss, coupled with prevailing regional security challenges, severely compromised our distribution schedule, which inadvertently led to the delayed start times.”
According to the council, the officials were travelling on official assignment when their vehicle was involved in a collision with a truck along the Gombe–Yola highway.
WAEC described the deceased as dedicated staff members who lost their lives while carrying out critical responsibilities in the examination process.
The council extended condolences to their families and assured the public that emergency measures were immediately introduced to minimise disruptions.
“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.
Beyond the accident, WAEC said nationwide protests organised by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) over the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states also disrupted the movement of examination materials in several locations.
The examination body noted that security concerns arising from the demonstrations affected logistics and delayed the timely distribution of question papers and other sensitive materials.
WAEC further cited challenges linked to the finalisation of examination arrangements and the late registration of candidates, which impacted planning and deployment processes.
Despite the difficulties encountered, the council assured candidates, parents and stakeholders that corrective actions had already been taken to prevent a recurrence.
According to WAEC, the effectiveness of those interventions was evident in the examinations conducted on Friday, June 5, which proceeded with fewer disruptions.
The examination body also expressed appreciation to its partners and stakeholders, including education authorities and security agencies, for their support during the challenging period.
“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.
WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the credibility and integrity of the WASSCE, assuring candidates that every effort would be made to ensure the smooth and successful completion of the examination nationwide.
The council added that it remains focused on delivering a fair, secure and efficient examination process despite the unforeseen challenges encountered during the current examination cycle.
