Widespread concern and outrage have trailed the conduct of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) as students in several parts of Nigeria were forced to write their English Language paper in the dark, amid power outages and security risks.
The Guardian gathered that the examination, which took place on Wednesday, was conducted at unusual hours in many schools — with some centers starting as late as 7:00 p.m. and ending around 9:00 p.m., while others reportedly held the exam between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that delays may have been caused by alleged question leaks, though these claims remain unverified as of press time.
Eyewitness accounts and findings from multiple locations revealed that some students sat for the high-stakes exam under extremely poor conditions — including total blackouts — with many forced to rely on flashlights from their mobile phones to see their question papers and answer sheets.
One such eyewitness, Mubarak Akande, who visited his sister’s examination center in the Adewole area of Ilorin, Kwara State, recounted a disturbing scene.
“I got to the school and saw all the students writing exams with flashlights and headlamps. The school was not properly illuminated. Imagine anyone with a sight defect there. I’m really livid,” he told The Guardian.
The situation has sparked widespread criticism online, particularly on the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter), where many users condemned the examination body’s handling of the process.
One user wrote:
“Students in Nigeria are currently writing their WAEC exams under terrible conditions. Today, the English paper, which began at 8:00 pm, is being conducted. Some students were reportedly asked to bring rechargeable lights to continue the exam. The exam is still on. This is 9:33 pm.”
Another user posted:
“WAEC is keeping teenage students for hours now, waiting like fools. Till now, English papers are yet to arrive. In 2025. In Nigeria. This is beyond incompetence. It is disgraceful. Heads must roll. Someone must be held accountable.”
As of the time of filing this report, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
This latest incident follows earlier reports by The Guardian in April 2025, where candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) were seen risking their safety by heading to exam centers as early as 4:00 a.m. for tests scheduled to start at 6:30 a.m.
The latest developments have renewed calls for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s educational and examination systems to prioritize the safety, dignity, and well-being of students.
