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WAEC Candidates Write Exams With Torchlight Due To Late Arrival Of Materials
The 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has come under criticism after major delays in the delivery of examination materials left students writing papers late into the night in several states, including Oyo, Lagos, Ogun and Osun.
Many candidates reportedly spent hours waiting at examination centres before they could begin their tests.
The problem first surfaced earlier in the week when students scheduled to sit for Physics examinations in the afternoon were forced to wait much longer than expected before receiving their question papers.
The situation worsened during the General Mathematics examination on Wednesday.
In some centres, the objective paper did not begin until evening, while others reportedly started as late as 8:30pm.
As a result, some students remained at their centres until after 10pm.
The situation was said to be particularly severe in some centres in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
At some centres in Ibadan, candidates waiting to take Agricultural Science practical examinations experienced lengthy delays.
Although the exams were scheduled to start in the afternoon, reports indicated that some centres had not begun the exercise by 8pm.
Because of the late start, many students were forced to complete their examinations under poor lighting conditions.
Videos shared online showed candidates using torchlights, phone flashlights and solar lamps to see their answer sheets.
The incident sparked anger across social media, with parents, students and concerned Nigerians questioning how such delays could occur during a major national examination.
A social media user, Mariam Kehinde, expressed concern after her sister remained at an examination centre long after dark.
“What exactly is happening in this country sef? My sister left for her WAEC exam since morning and still hadn’t returned home,” she wrote.
“She called around 6pm saying their exam paper had just arrived at that time nitori olorun. She was still at the exam centre, and my mum even had to wait.”
Another user, Adedeji Adeyinka, described the situation as troubling, claiming that candidates who had completed one section of their Government examination had to wait more than four hours before receiving the remaining paper.
“Candidates writing Government completed the Theory paper and were instructed to wait for the Objective paper, only for the question paper to arrive more than FOUR HOURS later,” he posted.
“How is this acceptable in a national examination? Even more shocking was the situation faced by students writing Agricultural Science Practical. An examination scheduled for 2:00 p.m. did not commence until about 9:00 p.m. in many parts of Oyo State.
“A seven-hour delay is not a minor inconvenience. It is a systemic failure.”
Another X user identified as Mum Ire also lamented the shortage of question papers during Wednesday’s Mathematics examination.
“Out of 75 candidates, only 35 Mathematics question papers were brought to the examination centre for the entire exam yesterday,” she wrote on Thursday.
“When did WAEC start operating like this?
“Now we are being told that the Agriculture Science practical questions are on the way at 8:10 pm.”
Joel Abodunrin also decried the shortage of question papers.
“WAEC’s been doing well until today,” he wrote on Wednesday.
“An examination hall of about 250 candidates and having Mathematics question papers for only 120.
“Getting to tear the questions into pieces so that all could have something to do.”
Hakeem Olaoye, another user, said candidates were being made to write examinations at unreasonable hours.
“WAEC exam being conducted late in the evening.
“The Agric practical exam that was supposed to be held by 2pm just commenced some minutes after 7pm,” he wrote.
“Very disheartening indeed. Likewise for Mathematics. A school with 130 students was given 16 question booklets to share among.”
The development has raised concerns about the safety of candidates amid the country’s growing security challenges.
Responding to the complaints, WAEC Nigeria’s Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, said the examination body would release a statement addressing the issues raised by candidates and parents.
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Azeez, condemned the development, describing it as unacceptable.
He argued that students who had prepared for months should not be subjected to unnecessary hardship because of administrative failures.
“It is both appalling and condemnable that young Nigerians, who had already endured months of preparation and the mental rigours associated with external examinations, were subjected to unnecessary hardship by being kept at examination centres far beyond reasonable hours,” he said.
“No examination procedure, administrative challenge, or operational deficiency should come at the expense of the safety and fundamental rights of students.”
Azeez said the development was even more alarming because it occurred in the south-west, a region that has been witnessing incidents of kidnapping and other security threats.
“What makes this development even more alarming is the fact that it occurred within the South-West region, a zone that has, in recent times, witnessed incidents of kidnapping, crime and other security challenges,” he said.
“Against this backdrop, it was grossly irresponsible for examination authorities to permit circumstances that left students stranded or lingering at examination centres late into the night, thereby exposing them to potential danger.”
Azeez further called on WAEC to review its examination logistics and emergency response plans to ensure that the safety, welfare and rights of candidates are protected in future examinations.
“Students must never become victims of administrative failures, poor planning or institutional negligence,” he added.
The 2026 WASSCE commenced on April 21 and is expected to conclude on June 19.
