WAEC apologises as English exam runs into night across Nigeria

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has explained that the delay in administering the 2025 English Language paper was due to enhanced security measures aimed at curbing examination malpractice.

In a statement released on Thursday, WAEC acknowledged the disruption candidates faced during the conduct of English Language Paper 2, which was scheduled for May 28 but commenced several hours late at numerous centres across Nigeria.

The 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates began on April 24 and is set to conclude on June 20, 2025.

According to WAEC spokesperson Moyosola Adesina, the delay was the unintended result of strict efforts to prevent leaks of examination materials.

“While we succeeded in securing the integrity of the exam papers, these precautionary measures unfortunately led to logistical setbacks and affected the smooth execution of the English paper,” Adesina told reporters.

WAEC also pointed to other contributing challenges, including logistics, security concerns, and sociocultural factors in some areas.

The examination body expressed regret for the disruption and offered an apology to students, parents, and schools affected by the delay. It further assured the public that steps are being taken, in collaboration with security agencies, to avoid such issues in the future.

“We understand how critical it is for exams to run on schedule and we are aware of the stress these delays place on candidates and their families,” Adesina said.

WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the credibility of its examinations and fostering academic excellence throughout the region.