LAGOS, Nigeria — Widespread confusion and frustration gripped several examination centres across Nigeria on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, as candidates sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) faced extensive delays in writing their English Language paper — one of the core components of the assessment.
The paper, originally scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m., did not start until noon in many locations.
In some centres, including those in Lagos, the final sessions of the exam stretched into the night, with candidates reportedly still writing as late as 11:45 p.m. under torchlight.
The disruption occurred primarily in southwestern states — Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Osun — and drew sharp criticism from parents, education stakeholders, and the wider public.
Social media platforms were awash with videos and photos showing students waiting restlessly in exam halls or struggling to complete the paper under makeshift lighting conditions.
Though the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) did not initially confirm the cause of the delay, multiple sources linked it to a last-minute replacement of the English Language paper due to a suspected leak online.
In a statement released late on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Moyosola Adesina, WAEC’s acting head of public affairs, apologised to affected candidates, parents, and schools.
She attributed the disruption to intensified security efforts aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the examination.
“While we successfully maintained the integrity of the examination, it impacted the timeliness and seamless conduct of the English Language paper,” the statement read.
WAEC acknowledged the scale of the disruption and said it was working with security agencies to prevent a recurrence.
