Rita Odafe
The Education Ministry has addressed the recent online speculation regarding the cancellation of the 2025 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) assessments.
The ministry firmly rejected the claims.
In a statement released on Sunday, July 20, the ministry termed the information as “incorrect and misleading,” urging the public to ignore it.
An “urgent notice” had been shared online, falsely attributed to the federal ministry of education and supposedly signed by “Dr. Aisha Lawal.” This notice alleged that the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) had been scrapped across the country due to a surge in exam malpractice, including significant question leaks occurring up to 72 hours before the exams.
However, the education ministry clarified later that evening, stating that the 2025 WAEC exams had been “successfully completed” with a few minor incidents of misconduct that were dealt with swiftly.
The ministry also noted that the current National Examinations Council (NECO) assessments are proceeding without any reported malpractice incidents as of the statement’s release.
“The federal ministry of education has not received any formal communication or report from WAEC, NECO, or any examination authority about widespread malpractice in either examination,” the announcement emphasized.
The ministry urged students, parents, school leaders, and the public to “ignore the false press release that is circulating,” characterizing it as “completely fabricated, deceptive, and aimed at creating unwarranted anxiety and confusion.”
The public is encouraged to obtain information solely from trustworthy sources, including the official websites of the federal ministry of education (www.education.gov.ng), WAEC (www.waecnigeria.org), and NECO (www.neco.gov.ng), as well as recognized media outlets.
The ministry reiterated its commitment to maintaining the integrity and credibility of all public examinations, pledging to collaborate with examination authorities to enhance monitoring and enforcement efforts.
It also cautioned that individuals disseminating false information would be reported to law enforcement agencies for investigation and potential legal action.
