The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in Nigeria has shed light on the factors that led to examinations continuing late into the night. According to Moyosola Adesina, the council’s Head of Public Affairs, the disruptions stemmed from a series of unfortunate events, including protests over abducted schoolchildren and the tragic loss of three WAEC staff members in a road accident in Gombe. These incidents, combined with logistical and operational hurdles, caused significant delays in the delivery of examination materials.
As a result, candidates in several centers across Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, and Osun states were forced to sit for their papers after dark. In some instances, students had to rely on torchlights, mobile phone flashlights, and solar-powered lamps to complete their exams. The chaos began last week Monday when candidates waited for hours before the scheduled Physics Essay and Objective papers, originally set for 2pm and 3:30pm respectively, could commence.
DAILY POST reports that the delays drew widespread criticism from the public, prompting WAEC to issue this explanation. The council emphasized that the safety and security of candidates and staff remain a priority, and they are working to prevent such occurrences in the future.