Nigeria WAEC 2026 Exam Delays Force Thousands to Write Late‑Night Papers
During the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), examination materials arrived hours late in several Nigerian states, including Oyo, Lagos, Ogun and Osun. The delays pushed the start times of Physics, General Mathematics and Agricultural Science papers to the evening, with some centres not beginning until 7 p.m.–9 p.m. and candidates finishing after 10 p.m. Students resorted to torchlights, phone flashlights and solar lamps to complete their tests, prompting widespread outrage on social media. WAEC acknowledged the “unforeseen circumstances” and said it was working to resolve the issues, while a WAEC official confirmed the council’s awareness of the hitches. The Federal Government, however, praised the overall conduct of the exam and highlighted the successful rollout of computer‑based testing in selected centres, noting that nearly 2 million candidates from about 29 000 schools participated. The incident mirrors similar logistical problems reported during the 2025 WASSCE, raising concerns about exam management, candidate safety and the need for reforms.