The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has attributed delays experienced during some papers in the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to a combination of logistical disruptions, security challenges and the tragic loss of three of its officials in a road accident.
Notably, the 2026 May/June WASSCE for school candidates commenced on 21 April and is scheduled to conclude on 19 June 2026.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, following public concerns over the late commencement of examinations in several centres across the country.
According to the council, three WAEC personnel lost their lives on Wednesday in a fatal accident along the Gombe-Yola highway while transporting sensitive examination materials between states.
The council explained that the incident significantly disrupted its distribution network and affected the timely delivery of examination materials to some centres.
“The delay was caused by a combination of logistical and operational challenges, notably 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.
WAEC added that the accident, alongside prevailing security concerns in some parts of the country, severely affected its examination logistics schedule.
The delays attracted widespread attention after candidates sitting for Mathematics and Agricultural Science papers in parts of Oyo, Lagos and Osun states reportedly began their examinations several hours behind schedule.
In some centres, candidates were compelled to write examinations late into the evening, with reports indicating that some relied on torchlights, mobile phone flashlights and solar-powered lamps to complete their papers after sunset.
Other candidates reportedly moved outdoors to take advantage of available natural light as darkness set in.
WAEC said its preliminary findings showed that additional challenges contributed to the delays, including issues surrounding the finalization of examination arrangements and the late registration of candidates.
According to the council, the late completion of registration processes affected the timely production and distribution of examination materials.
The council also cited security-related disruptions, including protests in some communities following the abduction of schoolchildren, which hindered the movement of examination materials despite contingency efforts.
“The issues of finalizing the mode of conduct of the examination and the subsequent late registration of candidates affected the timely preparation of examination materials.
“Security challenges which led to mass protests against the abduction of schoolchildren also affected the timely distribution of examination materials in spite of the council’s best efforts,” WAEC stated.
WAEC expressed condolences over the death of its personnel and commended its staff for implementing emergency measures to ensure examinations were eventually conducted in affected areas.
“While we mourned our fallen colleagues, 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 council said.
The examination body further assured candidates, parents and stakeholders that corrective measures had been implemented to prevent a recurrence during the remaining papers.
According to WAEC, the smoother conduct of examinations on Friday, 05 June demonstrated that most of the operational challenges had been resolved.
“The council hereby assures the general public that it has put modalities in place to ensure that the rest of the examination is conducted hitch-free, as observed from the conduct of the examination on Friday, June 5, 2026,” the statement added.
