- WAEC Explains Delays in 2026 WASSCE Papers, Confirms Death of Three Officials
- Three officials died while transporting sensitive examination materials
- Council assures candidates of smoother conduct for remaining papers
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has explained the delays experienced during the conduct of some papers in the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), attributing the disruption to logistical and operational challenges, including a fatal road accident that claimed the lives of three of its officials.
WAEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by its Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to the examination body, the three officials died in a road accident on Wednesday along the Gombe-Yola highway while transporting sensitive examination materials across states.
The council said the tragic incident significantly disrupted its distribution schedule and contributed to delays recorded in some examination centres.
WAEC stated: “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.
“This heartbreaking loss, coupled with prevailing regional security challenges, severely compromised our distribution schedule, which inadvertently led to the delayed start times.
“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 delays affected candidates sitting for Mathematics and Agricultural Science papers last Wednesday and Thursday in some centres across Oyo, Lagos and Osun states.
Reports indicated that several candidates were forced to continue writing their examinations late into the evening. In some centres, students relied on torchlights, mobile phone flashlights and solar-powered lamps to complete their papers after sunset. Others reportedly moved outside their classrooms in search of natural light.
WAEC said preliminary findings showed that multiple factors contributed to the delays, including the fatal accident, security concerns, finalisation of examination arrangements and late registration of candidates.
“The issues of finalising 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,” the statement added.
The council assured candidates, parents and stakeholders that measures had been put in place to prevent a recurrence during the remaining papers.
It noted that the smooth conduct of examinations on Friday, June 5, demonstrated that the challenges had largely 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,” WAEC said.
The 2026 May/June WASSCE for school candidates commenced on April 21 and is expected to conclude on June 19, 2026.
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