Candidates sitting the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC) were forced to write papers under torchlights and mobile phone flashlights in several centres across south-west Nigeria after major delays in the delivery of examination materials.
According to TheCable, candidates in Oyo, Lagos, Ogun and Osun states experienced significant disruptions, with some examinations extending late into the night.
The delays reportedly began earlier in the week during the Physics Essay and Objective papers, which were scheduled for the afternoon but started hours behind schedule. Problems continued during the General Mathematics Objective examination, with some centres commencing as late as 8:30pm and candidates finishing after 10pm.
The situation appeared most severe in Oyo State, particularly in Ibadan, where Agricultural Science practical examinations scheduled for 2pm and 3:30pm had not commenced in some centres by 8pm.
Videos shared on social media showed candidates writing examinations in poorly lit classrooms using torchlights, mobile phone flashlights and solar-powered lamps.
The incident triggered widespread criticism online, with parents, students and concerned Nigerians questioning how a national examination body could allow such disruptions.
Several social media users reported shortages of question papers during the Mathematics examination. One user claimed that only 35 question papers were supplied for 75 candidates, while another alleged that a centre with about 250 students received only 120 copies.
Others expressed concern about students remaining at examination centres late into the evening amid growing security challenges across parts of the country.
Responding to the complaints, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, told TheCable that the examination body would issue an official statement on the matter.
Reacting to the development, Akinteye Azeez, president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, described the situation as unacceptable and dangerous.
He said students should not be exposed to risks because of administrative failures and called for a comprehensive review of WAEC’s examination logistics and contingency planning.
Azeez added that keeping candidates at examination centres late into the night was particularly concerning given recent security incidents in parts of the south-west region.
The 2026 WASSCE commenced on April 21 and is scheduled to conclude on June 19.
