Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The West African Examinations Council has officially abandoned its newly introduced 24-hour distribution policy for examination materials following the tragic death of three officials in a head-on collision in Gombe State and widespread logistical chaos that forced thousands of WASSCE candidates to write papers late into the night.
The policy reversal, which returns the exam body to its traditional 48-hour delivery window, represents a dramatic U-turn by WAEC management amid mounting criticism from parents, school administrators, and education stakeholders across the country. The council had introduced the compressed 24-hour timeline as a security measure to prevent a recurrence of last year’s English Language paper leakage. However, the strategy backfired dramatically as the shortened window proved “grossly inadequate” for moving heavy exam materials across Nigeria’s long interstate distances, particularly given the dilapidated state of federal highways.
The operational crisis first became evident last Wednesday, when examination centres nationwide reported severe delays in the arrival of question papers. In extreme cases, students were forced to sit for subjects such as Mathematics and Agricultural Science practical under poor lighting conditions, with some papers extending into the night. The situation revived memories of similar challenges recorded during previous examination cycles and sparked sharp criticism from the Oyo State Government, which described the development as unacceptable and harmful to students’ welfare.
Tragically, the logistical pressure culminated in a devastating highway disaster that morning around 9:00 a.m. Three WAEC staff members—Eleshin Dennis Olayinka, Dan-Malam Add’ua Muhammed, and Yusuf Umar Gwamna—were killed instantly in an automobile accident in the Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State. The officials were driving a pick-up van loaded with exam codes along the Gombe-Yola Road when an oncoming trailer reportedly veered out of its lane, colliding head-on with their vehicle. None of the three occupants survived the heavy impact.
The tragedy sent shockwaves through the council and demoralised field workers, with many dispatch teams reportedly expressing reluctance to continue delivery roles in the following days. In an emotional internal condolence memo circulated to WAEC staff nationwide, the Head of National Office for WAEC Nigeria, Dr. Amos Dangut, expressed profound grief over the incident, noting that the tragedy starkly highlighted the extreme, often unseen risks that council employees face on the job.
Insiders familiar with WAEC operations disclosed that the council’s standard operational policy had always relied on a 48-hour window between the printing of question papers and their secure transfer to custodian centres nationwide. This two-day window allowed dispatch teams to navigate the unpredictable security landscape and fragile road networks safely. The decision to slash this window to 24 hours placed immense pressure on field workers, who were forced to drive through the night without adequate rest.
Recognising the collapse of the strategy and the growing public backlash, WAEC management has quietly returned to the old 48-hour order. Insiders confirmed that the reversal is intended to stabilise the administration of the remaining papers and guarantee a hitch-free conclusion to the annual school-leaving examination.
Education stakeholders have since called for a comprehensive review of WAEC’s logistics and security arrangements, urging the examination body to strike a balance between protecting examination integrity and ensuring the safety of its personnel and candidates. The tragic incident in Gombe State, where three lives were lost in the line of duty, has become the most painful symbol of that urgent need.
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