WAEC Reveals What Forced Night Exam After Fatal Crash Disrupted Plans

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has attributed delays experienced in some papers of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to logistical and operational challenges.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The council said the disruptions were further compounded by a fatal road accident that claimed the lives of three of its officials who were transporting sensitive examination materials across states.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina.

The officials reportedly died on Wednesday in a crash along the Gombe–Yola highway following a collision with a truck.

WAEC explained that the incident disrupted its distribution timetable and resulted in delayed commencement of examinations in affected centres.

According to the council, “The delay was caused by a combination of logistical and operational challenges, notably the devastating motor accident on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, which tragically claimed the lives of three of our dedicated personnel transporting sensitive examination materials interstate.

“This heartbreaking loss, alongside prevailing regional security concerns, significantly affected our distribution schedule, leading to delayed start times.

“While we mourn our fallen colleagues, our staff worked tirelessly to implement emergency contingency measures to ensure the examinations were still conducted in the affected areas.”

Candidates who sat for Mathematics and Agricultural Science in parts of Oyo, Lagos, and Osun States reportedly wrote their papers late into the evening last Wednesday and Thursday.

In some centres, students were said to have relied on torchlights, mobile phone flashlights, and solar-powered lamps to complete their exams after 8 p.m., while others moved outdoors to make use of available light.

WAEC noted that preliminary findings indicated multiple factors contributed to the delays, including the fatal accident, insecurity concerns, finalisation of examination arrangements, and late registration of candidates.

It further explained that disruptions linked to security challenges and protests over the abduction of schoolchildren also affected the timely distribution of examination materials, despite efforts to mitigate the impact.

The council said, “Issues surrounding the finalisation of examination modalities and late registration of candidates affected the timely preparation of materials.

“Security challenges, including protests over the abduction of schoolchildren, also disrupted the distribution process despite our best efforts.”

WAEC assured the public that measures had been put in place to prevent a repeat of such incidents in subsequent papers, noting that examinations conducted on Friday, June 5, proceeded without major disruptions.

It added that the smooth conduct of that day’s examination indicated that corrective measures were already yielding results.

The 2026 May/June WASSCE for school candidates commenced on Tuesday, April 21, and is expected to conclude on Friday, June 19, 2026.