WAEC Cites Accident, Security Challenges in 2026 WASSCE Delay

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has expressed concern over the delayed conduct of some papers in the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.

In a press release shared on its official X page, WAEC said it immediately launched investigations after receiving reports of delays in some examination centres to determine the cause and prevent a recurrence.

The Council explained that the disruption was caused by a combination of logistical, operational, and security challenges affecting the smooth conduct of the examination.

WAEC stated that a major contributing factor was a tragic motor accident on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, which claimed the lives of three of its staff members who were transporting sensitive examination materials across states.

The Council also cited prevailing security challenges, including protests linked to the abduction of school children, which affected the timely distribution of examination materials despite efforts by officials.

WAEC further noted issues related to the finalization of the examination mode and late registration of candidates, which also contributed to delays in preparation and logistics.

Despite the setbacks, the Council assured stakeholders that contingency measures were quickly activated to ensure the affected examinations were still conducted in the impacted centres.

WAEC added that it has strengthened arrangements to ensure the remaining papers in the ongoing WASSCE proceed smoothly without further disruption.

The Council also appreciated the support of the Federal and State Ministries of Education, the Nigeria Police, and other security agencies in ensuring the conduct of the examination.

WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the credibility, integrity, and smooth administration of its examinations across the region.