Examination body cites abduction protests, fatal road crash involving officials, and logistical setbacks for disruptions that left candidates writing exams late into the night.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has attributed the delays experienced during the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to security concerns, logistical challenges, and the death of three officials in a road accident.
In a statement on Monday, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, said the officials died on June 3 while transporting sensitive examination materials along the Gombe-Yola highway, a development that disrupted the council’s distribution schedule.
The examination body also linked the delays to nationwide protests over the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states, as well as other operational challenges affecting the movement of examination materials.
The disruptions sparked complaints across the country after candidates reportedly waited for hours to sit some papers, while videos from parts of Oyo State showed students writing examinations under torchlights and mobile phone flashlights.
WAEC said emergency measures were immediately activated to minimise the impact of the challenges and ensure examinations continued in affected centres.
The council expressed condolences to the families of the deceased officials and assured candidates, parents, and stakeholders that corrective measures had been put in place to prevent a recurrence.
WAEC also thanked the Federal and State Ministries of Education, the Nigeria Police, and other security agencies for their support, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining the credibility and integrity of the WASSCE nationwide.