The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has attributed the delayed conduct of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in some centres across Nigeria to a combination of logistical setbacks, security concerns, and operational challenges, including a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of three officials transporting sensitive examination materials.
In a statement addressing widespread concerns over the late commencement of the Mathematics and Agricultural Science papers in some examination centres, the examination body said it immediately launched preliminary investigations after receiving reports of disruptions during the ongoing school candidates’ examination.
According to WAEC, the most significant factor behind the delays was a devastating motor accident that occurred on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, involving officials responsible for interstate transportation of examination materials.
The council disclosed that the crash resulted in the deaths of three personnel and severely disrupted its distribution schedule. It stated that the tragedy, coupled with prevailing security challenges in some parts of the country, affected the timely delivery of examination materials to several 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,” WAEC said.
The examination body added that while mourning the loss of its staff, emergency contingency measures were immediately activated to minimise disruptions and ensure that candidates in affected locations were still able to sit for their examinations.
“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 areas affected,” the council stated.
WAEC further identified issues surrounding the finalisation of examination modalities and the late registration of some candidates as contributing factors that complicated the timely preparation and distribution of examination materials.
The council also pointed to security-related disruptions in some regions, including protests linked to the abduction of schoolchildren, which affected movement and logistics despite efforts by officials to maintain the examination timetable.
Despite the challenges, WAEC assured candidates, parents, schools and other stakeholders that measures have been put in place to prevent a recurrence of the delays during the remainder of the examination period.
“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 said.
WAEC expressed appreciation to its key partners, including the Federal and State Ministries of Education, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, for their support throughout the examination process.
The council reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity and credibility of its examinations, stressing that it remains focused on delivering a smooth and transparent assessment process for candidates across the country.
“WAEC remains unwavering in its commitment to maintaining the academic credibility and administrative integrity for which it is widely reputed,” the council added.
