Outrage as WAEC students write exams late at night under flashlights

Nigerians have taken to social media to express outrage and disappointment after disturbing videos surfaced showing secondary school students writing their West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) late at night by flashlight.

The incident reportedly occurred across parts of South-West Nigeria on Wednesday. According to the official WAEC timetable, the English Language paper—consisting of Essay (8 a.m.), Objective (10 a.m.), and Test of Orals (3 p.m.)—was scheduled for earlier in the day. However, viral footage showed students still hunched over exam scripts well into the night, raising serious questions about exam conduct and administration.

The videos sparked a wave of criticism online, with many Nigerians slamming the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for what they described as gross negligence and a threat to the integrity of the examination process.

However, students in some schools in Lagos, Osun, Ogun and Oyo State wrote the examination around 7 p.m. and others as late as 9 p.m.

One WAEC supervisor in Lagos state, who didn’t want to be named, said the supervisors had to wait for the question papers to arrive.

Around 9 p.m., the supervisor said some supervisors were just leaving to Lilyfields comprehensive college, Ejigbo, Lagos State and Oke Afa Senior Comprehensive College.

However, Nigerians have taken to social media to criticise the examination body for the ‘ugly conduct’.

Below are some of the reactions.

@kenechi_nwosu posted on X: “Sadly, our last born just returned home at 8:45pm from the WAEC exam he had today precisely English language. Said they started late and had to manage torch light and struggled to pull through. Is it not so shameful @waecnigeria that you lack conscience and proper logistics?”

@AmMrPlenty posted: “WAEC is keeping teenage students for HOURS now, waiting like fools, till now English papers is yet to arrive. In 2025. In Nigeria. This is beyond incompetence it’s disgraceful. Heads must roll. Someone must be held accountable. We won’t keep normalizing this madness.😡”

@MatanmiKwara: “WAEC has outdone itself, students still waiting for English papers at 7:35pm? This isn’t an exam, it’s a night vigil. Even JAMB is impressed. At this rate, students need mosquito nets more than pens. WAEC’s poor planning is the real test here.

(PremiumTimes)