The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has attributed the delays recorded in the ongoing WASSCE 2026 to a fatal motor accident that claimed the lives of three of its staff, alongside security challenges and mass protests over the abduction of school children.
The Council disclosed this in a press release issued on Monday, June 8, 2026, and signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola F. Adesina.
According to WAEC, a devastating road accident on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, claimed the lives of three of its personnel who were transporting sensitive examination materials interstate. The Council described the loss as heartbreaking, noting that it severely compromised its distribution schedule and inadvertently led to delayed start times at several examination centres.
While mourning its fallen colleagues, WAEC said its staff worked around the clock to deploy emergency contingency measures to ensure the examination was still conducted in the affected areas.
Beyond the accident, the Council also cited mass protests caused by the abduction of school children, which further disrupted the timely distribution of examination materials. Late registration of candidates, which affected the timely preparation of materials was also identified as a contributing factor.
However, WAEC assured the public that measures have been put in place to ensure the remainder of the examination is conducted without hitches, pointing to the smooth conduct of the examination on Friday, June 5, 2026, as evidence of improvement.
The Council also acknowledged the support of key stakeholders, including the Federal and State Ministries of Education, the Nigeria Police, and other security agencies, describing them as worthy partners in the delivery of its mandate.
WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the academic credibility and administrative integrity for which it is widely reputed.
WAEC Also Recorded Exam delays in 2025
This is not the first time WAEC has faced scrutiny over examination disruptions. During the 2025 WASSCE, students across several states wrote exams late into the night after the Council delayed papers. At the time, Moyosola Adesina said measures taken to prevent paper leakage had inadvertently impacted the timeliness and seamless conduct of the examination, citing logistical challenges, security concerns, and sociocultural issues as contributing factors.
The 2025 incident generated criticism from major stakeholders in the country. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students condemned the situation, calling it a national disgrace and demanding a resit of the affected examination paper.
Leave a Comment