Nigeria: Students in Osun, Taraba, and Other States Write WAEC Exams Under Candlelight and Phone Torchlight

In the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), several students across multiple Nigerian states were forced to write their English Language examination late into the night, with some relying on candlelight and phone torches due to delays in the arrival of examination materials, power outages and poor lighting conditions.

The English Language Papers II and III, initially scheduled for 4:00 pm on Wednesday, May 28, failed to arrive at many centres on time, triggering fear and frustration among students, parents, and school officials.

In Osogbo, Osun State, the exam papers reportedly arrived as late as 8:00 pm—four hours behind schedule, raising serious concerns about logistics and the safety of candidates. Students in towns such as Ifetedo, Ila, and Iwo, as well as other remote communities in the state, waited for hours without clear communication from officials.

In Jalingo, Taraba State, candidates were still writing their exams past midnight under the supervision of teachers and concerned parents who stayed outside for security.

It will be recalled that a few days ago, some students of Unity Model School, Asaba, Delta State, were forced to sit for one of their WAEC exams late in the evening, as the school was without a power supply, and they had to use torchlight. In the video seen online, a woman is heard condemning the officials for putting the students through such an ordeal. She claimed the exam was supposed to be held by 2 pm, but the officials only brought the exam papers by 6 pm.

In response to the widespread outcry, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) issued an apology for the delay. According to a statement signed by Moyosola Adesina, Acting Head of Public Affairs for WAEC, the disruptions were attributed to “operational challenges” rooted in efforts to prevent exam malpractice and question paper leakage.

While maintaining the integrity and security of our examination, we faced considerable challenges primarily due to our major aim of preventing leakage of any paper,” the statement read. “Despite our best efforts, we encountered logistical hurdles, security concerns, and socio-cultural factors that negatively influenced our operations.”

However, the apology has done little to calm the anger and disappointment of stakeholders who fear that such irregularities could affect the performance and psychological well-being of students, and add another layer to the faulty planning of educational institutions after the recent JAMB 2025 UTME exams controversies that led to mass failure.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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