Videos of candidates sitting for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) till late at night using torchlights and other devices have surfaced online.
NewsClick Nigeria reports that the exams commenced on April 24 and is scheduled to conclude on June 20, 2025.
According to reports the particular exam (English Language), scheduled to begin at 9:00 am on Wednesday, May 28, did not commence until midday.
In some centres, the last paper did not start until nightfall, with students in Lagos reportedly still writing as late as 11:45 pm under torchlight.
The disruption, which triggered anger among parents and sparked an online backlash, occurred in several southwestern states, including Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Osun.
However, some sources report that the paper was leaked online, prompting the examination body, West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to replace it at the last minute.
Reacting, the Council apologised attributing the delay in the commencement of the exam to its heightened efforts to prevent examination malpractice.
In a statement on Thursday, the examination body acknowledged the disruption experienced by candidates during the conduct of Paper 2 of the English Language examination.
“While we succeeded in safeguarding the examination materials, this inadvertently affected the timeliness and smooth execution of the process,” WAEC’s spokesperson Moyosola Adesina said.
The examination body also cited other contributing factors, including logistical challenges, security concerns, and sociocultural issues.
It noted that it is working closely with security agencies to ensure that such delays do not recur in the future.
WAEC apologised to students, schools, and parents for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and thanked all stakeholders for their understanding during what it described as a “challenging period”.
The council reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the integrity of its exams and promoting academic excellence across the region.
“We understand the importance of conducting examinations on schedule, and recognise the impacts delays have on candidates, their schools, and their families,” Adesina added.