Outrage as WAEC candidates write exams in darkness

A disturbing video has surfaced online showing Nigerian students sitting for the ongoing 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) under deplorable conditions due to a power outage.

In the viral footage shared by a social media user identified as #Omolomo_o on X (formerly Twitter), candidates were captured struggling to write their English Language paper late into the night, relying on lanterns and phone flashlights for illumination.

“This is a WAEC examination centre in Nigeria. They are writing WAEC right now,” the user wrote. “It is 9:42 p.m., and students are forced to use lamps to write their English exam in total darkness.”

The video, which has since stirred widespread outrage, highlights the country’s lingering electricity crisis and the toll it continues to take on essential sectors, especially education.

Many Nigerians took to social media to express anger over the situation, questioning how students can be expected to perform optimally under such dire circumstances.

Critics also blamed poor infrastructure and years of neglect in the education sector, calling on relevant authorities to address the persistent issue of power supply in schools and examination centres.

As of press time, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has yet to issue an official response regarding the incident.