By Onuora Aninwobodo
The Federal Ministry of Education has debunked reports alleging the cancellation of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC) and the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) exams due to alleged widespread examination malpractice.
In a statement signed by Moyosola Adesina, its head of Public Affairs, WAEC also urged candidates and their parents to ignore the fake news.
In a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations, and issued on Sunday, the Ministry of Education described the viral information as false, misleading, and intended to create unnecessary panic among students, parents, and school administrators.
“The attention of the Federal Ministry of Education has been drawn to a false and misleading statement circulating online, alleging the cancellation of the 2025 WAEC Examinations due to widespread examination malpractice,” the statement reads.
It added that the 2025 WAEC exams had been successfully concluded, with only a few isolated cases of malpractice, which were promptly addressed by the relevant authorities. As for NECO, the Ministry confirmed that the examinations were ongoing without any reported incidents.
“There is no official communication or report from WAEC, NECO, or any examination body suggesting any widespread malpractice,” the statement clarified.
The Ministry advised the public to disregard the fake notice in circulation and emphasized that authentic updates should only be sourced from official channels.
“We urge students, parents, school administrators, and the general public to disregard the fake press release currently in circulation. It is entirely fabricated, misleading, and intended to cause unnecessary panic and confusion,” the Ministry said.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to the integrity and credibility of public examinations in the country, promising continued collaboration with examination bodies to strengthen monitoring and enforcement.
“The Ministry remains fully committed to upholding the integrity, credibility, and orderly conduct of all public examinations,” it added.
The WAEC statement also reads:
RE: URGENT NOTICE: IMMEDIATE CANCELLATION OF 2025 WAEC EXAMINATIONS NATIONWIDE
The attention of The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, has been drawn to a press statement alleging the cancellation of all the papers written during the just concluded WASSCE for School Candidates, 2025. According to the press statement dated Saturday, July 19th, 2025, being circulated on social media platforms, the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with WAEC had canceled the said examination due to widespread of examination malpractice, coordinated leakage of questions papers, and unauthorized digital dissemination of exam materials.
The WAEC Management would like to state unequivocally that the spurious Press Statement being circulated did not emanate from the Council. The said examination has not been cancelled. Though the source of that information cannot be ascertained, the Council is certain that the false claim is being peddled by mischief-makers who are bent on bringing the Council to disrepute to cause confusion and panic among candidates who sat the examination. As a matter of fact, the Marking scripts for the said examination has just been concluded and results will be released on or before Thursday, August 4, 2025.
The Council would like to use this opportunity to inform the general public and all stakeholders that all information from the Council are disseminated via our official and verified social media handles, as well as accredited media platforms across the country. In the same vein, all press releases are issued and signed by the Public Affairs Department of the Council on behalf of the Head of National Office.
We therefore, urge our stakeholders and the general public to disregard the said publication.
Issued by the Public Affairs Department
Signed: Moyosola Adesina, anipr, Ag. Head, Public Affairs
WAEC, Yaba, Lagos – Sunday, 20th July, 2025
for: Head of National Office
