- ‘We’re working on it’ – Council assures
BY CHINYERE OBIORA, LAGOS – Logistical nightmare has continued to trail the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), with candidates in some centres now forced to write examination papers late into the night.
Reports indicated that what was meant to be a standard daytime assessment for the Exam body is being haunted by severe delays as candidates are enduring grueling, and hours-long waits, leaving them writing their papers well into the pitch-black night.
Expectedly, the unfortunate situation has triggered a storm of outrage among parents, educators, school administrators and stakeholders, coming barely a year after similar systemic failures saw exhausted students struggling to finish exams by phone flashlights and candlelight as late as midnight.
Recent checks across Lagos confirm the problem has intensified significantly this week as the unpredictable scheduling continues to raise serious concerns about candidates’ mental welfare, safety, and the overall credibility of the testing process.
Available reports indicate that several centres in Lagos, particularly on Lagos Island and in the Lekki axis, are hard hit by the severe supply chain disruptions and unforeseen complications
Confirmed sources said on Monday, June 1, 2026, Physics Papers 2 and 1, scheduled to hold between 2 pm and 5 pm, did not commence on time, and some of the candidates had to write the second paper around 8 O’clock in the night.
The situation was no different on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 as candidates for General Mathematics experienced major disruptions. The essay paper, originally scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to noon, and the subsequent objective paper, mapped out for 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., dragged on in a grueling session that reportedly did not conclude until around 10 p.m.
The situation was just as dire for students having the Agricultural Science practical on Thursday, June 2 because by the evening, candidates had been left waiting for hours.
Candidates at several centres visited by our correspondent were reportedly informed that examination materials had not yet arrived, even as one school Principal, who spoke under condition of anonymity, expressed disappointment over the recurring challenges.
The visibly frustrated principal, who expressed deep disappointment over these recurring logistical failures, said: “Why are we experiencing this again after what happened last year?
“Apart from the security concerns in the country, these delays have psychological effects on candidates. Imagine preparing for an examination scheduled for noon and eventually writing it at 7 p.m. or later.”
According to him, many stakeholders had expected WAEC to have addressed the challenges following last year’s incidents, noting that what was supposed to be a standard examination day regrettably turned into a grueling, marathon ordeal for many candidates.
In Lekki area, a concerned parent voiced the collective exhaustion of parents, noting how the persistent delays were chipping away at students’ well-being and casting a shadow over the integrity of the exams.
Further explaining their daily frustration, the worried father said: “My child didn’t make it through the front door until 10 p.m. on Wednesday. We really thought they would have learned from last year, yet here we are, watching the same mistakes repeat themselves.”
Amid the night time examination scheduling, the outcry has spilled onto social media, where a wave of posts from parents and citizens paint a bleak picture of empty desks waiting for question papers and the toll the disorganized start is taking on the exhausted students.
With avalanche of complaints covering delayed commencement of examinations, shortages of question papers and the impact on students, some users alleged that frustration mounted at several exam centers as candidates sat waiting for hours before supervisors finally arrived.
Also, claims have emerged about intensified outrage over some schools reportedly demanding extra payments for the mathematical sets used during the examination.
One parent questioned how students could possibly stay focused after spending an entire day in limbo, while others worried for their children’s safety as they traveled home late into the night
While official statements clarifying the disruption are yet to come, a WAEC insider acknowledged the council’s awareness of the unfolding crisis, saying: “Yes, we are aware of some hitches due to unforeseen circumstances. However, we are doing everything possible to address the issues, and hopefully, things will return to normal soon.”
But for concerned parents and stakeholders, WAEC must do better by implementing strict measures to ensure future exams proceed smoothly and without similar hiccups.
