Delayed materials force WAEC candidates to take exams in darkness

Candidates sitting for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) faced major disruptions across examination centres in Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, and Osun States as the late arrival of examination materials forced many students to write their papers late into the night.

The situation, which began earlier in the week, persisted on Thursday, raising concerns among parents and candidates.

It was gathered that the candidates, on Monday, waited for several hours before sitting for the Physics Essay and Objective papers, originally scheduled for 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively.

The delays continued on Wednesday when the General Mathematics Objective paper reportedly commenced as late as 6:30 p.m. in some centres and 8:30 p.m. in others, forcing candidates to remain in examination halls until after 10 p.m.

The disruption was particularly pronounced in parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

At several centres, candidates scheduled to take the Agricultural Science practical examination were left waiting for hours. While the first batch was slated for 2 p.m. and the second batch for 3:30 p.m., some centres had yet to begin the examination as of 8 p.m.

As darkness set in, many candidates were said to have sat for their examinations under poor lighting conditions.

Viral videos circulating on social media showed students relying on torchlights, mobile phone flashlights, and solar-powered lamps to complete their papers.

‘We faced challenges’: WAEC apologises for conducting English exam at night

The development has sparked widespread outrage online, with many Nigerians expressing concern over the welfare and safety of candidates.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Nigeria had not issued an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.

It would be recalled that WAEC has previously faced similar disruptions in its examination timetable.

WAEC, on May 28, 2025, delayed the commencement of English Language paper 1 in some parts of the country due to alleged leakage.

The English Essay examination slated as a morning paper was shifted to late in the evening because the questions had allegedly leaked.

While the English language Multiple Choice Questions examination was held in the morning, the English Essay examination commenced at about 6 p.m. and lasted until 7:30 p.m.

The 2026 WASSCE commenced on April 21 and is expected to end on June 19.