The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has admitted errors in the results released early in the week with respect to this year’s Senior Secondary School Examination, SSCE, saying 1,239,884 candidates now have credit passes in five subjects or more, including English Language and Mathematics.
The new figure represents 62.9% of the 1,969,313 candidates who took the examination.
Additionally, the new figure is significantly better than the initial figure of 754,545, representing 38.32% of the number of candidates who were said to have credit passes in five or more subjects, including English and Mathematics, in the previously announced results.
Briefing the press in Lagos on Friday evening, the Head of the National Office of WAEC, Dr. Amos Dangut, admitted to some lapses on the part of the Council, especially regarding the serialized questions in objective papers of certain subjects.
“Gentlemen of the media, with deep sense of sorrow and regret, I, on behalf of the Registrar to Council, Management and Staff of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, welcome you to this press briefing to announce the reviewed results of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, 2025 in Nigeria.
“You will recall that on Monday, August 4, 2025, the Council, in Nigeria, announced the release of results of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, 2025. During the briefing, we informed you that 1,969,313 candidates took the examination, with 976,787 being males and 992,526 being females, representing 49.60% and 50.40%, respectively.
“From the analysis of statistics of candidates’ performance in the examination, we told you that out of the 1,969,313 candidates that sat the examination, 1,718,090 candidates, representing 87.24%, obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five (5) subjects (i.e., with or without English Language and/or Mathematics). And 754,545 candidates, representing 38.32%, obtained credits and above in a minimum of five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
“However, during an internal post-examination review of the released results of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates (SC) 2025, some discrepancies were discovered in the grading of serialized papers. We had earlier informed you that the Council embarked on an innovation (paper serialization) already deployed by a national examination body.
“The Council, being an accountable, transparent and credible organization, further investigated all the serialized papers (Mathematics, English Language, Biology and Economics Objective Papers) and discovered that a serialized code file was wrongly used in the printing of English Language Objective Tests (Paper 3), which resulted in them being scored with wrong keys. Nevertheless, the schools that sat WASSCE for School Candidates, 2025, using the Computer-based mode were not affected by this error.
“Consequently, the observable decline in the performance of candidates earlier announced was partly traceable to this absurd situation. The Council sincerely apologizes for this situation and deeply regrets the emotional and mental distress it may have caused the affected candidates and all stakeholders. We have resolved the anomaly, and candidates can now access their results on the portal (www.waecdirect.org). At this juncture, I would like to announce the accurate results obtained by the candidates.
1,239,884 candidates representing 62.96%, obtained credits and above in a minimum of five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics
“Of this number, 582,065, representing 46.95% were male candidates, while 657,819, representing 53.05% were female candidates. A comparison of the percentage of candidates in this category in WASSCE for School 2024 and 2025, reveals that in this year’s (2025) WASSCE, there is 9.16% decrease in performance (that is, those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five (5) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, as 72.12% of the candidates did that last year.
“Gentlemen of the Media, as the reviewed results of the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2025 are being uploaded on the results website, candidates should, after checking the result online, apply for their Digital certificate, which will be released forty-eight (48) hours thereafter. Candidates who have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Council can access their results on the Council’s results website: www.waecdirect.org, within the next twelve hours. Copies of the new Result Listing will be sent to schools shortly.
“Once again, the Management of the West African Examinations Council pleads with all stakeholders to pardon us at this moment. This is very difficult for us to say but we have to admit that it is very embarrassing. We acknowledge the emotional ordeal that candidates, parents, teachers, school administrators, Ministries of Education, the media and other well-meaning stakeholders must have had to deal with. This is a trying time for us at WAEC, we are doing everything we can to ensure that such dismal situation does not recur.”
Dangut, while answering a question on whether every candidate should recheck their results, replied in the affirmative, saying everything has now been put in order.
He was, however, silent on what steps would be taken against those responsible for the mix-up.
Recall that many Nigerians have expressed displeasure over the initially released poor results.
Some candidates who performed well in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, surprisingly performed poorly in English Language, particularly in their initial SSCE results.
For instance, a parent whose child scored 368 in the UTME had distinctions in all eight papers in the WASSCE but failed English Language. The parent complained bitterly to our correspondent and called for a review.
Early this year, JAMB was also affected by technical glitches that marred its UTME and had to ask some candidates to retake their papers.
About the author
Haaland’s agent dismisses Barcelona transfer rumours
Erling Haaland’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, has rubbished reports linking the Manchester City striker with a summer move to Barcelona, insisting there has been no contact with the Catalan club. Recent speculation in Spain suggested that Barca presidential hopeful Victor Font and other figures around the club were exploring a deal to lure Haaland to Camp Nou in the coming seasons. Some reports claimed that Barcelona had already started sounding out the player’s camp. But speaking in an interview with Spanish TV show El Chiringuito, Pimenta said there is “a lot of respect and admiration” for Barcelona, yet no one from the club or any presidential candidate has made contact about a transfer. She stressed that Haaland is “very happy” at Manchester City and fully focused on his current project under Pep Guardiola. The agent also pointed out that the Norwegian […]
Sabalenka storms into semis as Medvedev reaches Indian Wells last four amid controversy
World number one Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant form at Indian Wells, reaching the semi finals with a straight sets win over Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko. Sabalenka prevailed 7–6(0), 6–4 in one hour and 51 minutes, but was pushed hard by the 19 year old 10th seed, who recently won the 2025 Canadian Open and is regarded as one of the brightest young talents on the WTA Tour. The Belarusian did not drop serve, landing 94 percent of her first serves and saving all five break points she faced to secure a fourth straight Indian Wells semi final. She will next face Czech player Linda Noskova, who ended the impressive run of Australia’s Talia Gibson with a 6–2, 4–6, 6–2 victory to book her own place in the last four. In the other semi final, Elina Svitolina will meet Australian […]
EPL: Spurs fight for survival as Arsenal gear up for title charge
Tottenham Hotspur travel to Liverpool on Sunday desperately searching for salvation in their fight against relegation, while Premier League leaders Arsenal look primed for another push in the title race. Spurs have lost their last six matches in all competitions, the worst run in the club’s history. Igor Tudor’s side sit 16th, just one point above West Ham and Nottingham Forest, and could drop closer to the bottom three if results go against them before they kick off at Anfield. The north Londoners were thrashed 5–2 by Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie in midweek, a chaotic night in which Tudor substituted goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after just 17 minutes following two costly errors. With only nine league games left and no win in their last 11, Tottenham know they must “dig deeper” to […]
Iran war: Falana urges Nigeria to work with other countries to pressure Trump
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called on Nigeria to collaborate with other countries to mount diplomatic pressure on United States President Donald Trump over the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel and the US. Falana said Nigeria should revive its tradition of multilateral diplomacy, like in the days of the Non Aligned Movement, by working with other nations to ensure respect for international law and to push for restraint on all sides. He criticised Trump for what he described as contempt for international law and United Nations resolutions, noting that the US under his watch has withdrawn from dozens of UN decisions. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria argued that Nigeria and other countries must persuade global powers such as China and Russia to intervene diplomatically in the crisis, since they wield significant influence over […]
ECOWAS urges restraint as Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone border tensions rise
The Economic Community of West African States has appealed for calm and restraint from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone following renewed tensions and reported armed incidents along their shared borders. Recent reports say Guinean soldiers allegedly crossed into Liberian territory in Foya District, Lofa County, firing sporadic gunshots and briefly hoisting their national flag on Liberian soil, weeks after a similar confrontation near the Sierra Leonean border in which several Sierra Leonean security personnel were detained. The incidents have sparked fears of escalation in the Mano River Union region. In its response, ECOWAS called on all three governments to exercise maximum restraint, avoid inflammatory statements and resolve outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and existing regional mechanisms. The bloc reiterated that only a comprehensive regional approach can restore lasting security along the Guinea–Liberia–Sierra Leone frontier. The organisation also expressed support for […]
Police investigate alleged shooting of comedian Broda Shaggi
The police have opened an investigation into the alleged shooting of popular skit maker and comedian Samuel Perry, better known as Broda Shaggi, during a skit shoot in Ogun State. Reports say Broda Shaggi sustained a gunshot injury on Sunday afternoon while filming a comedy skit under the Sango Ota bridge in the Sango Ota area of Ogun. A police source quoted in multiple reports said the exact circumstances of the shooting remain unclear, but confirmed that the injury occurred at the location where he and his crew were working. He was first rushed to Blooming Care Hospital in the Alakuko area of Lagos, where he received initial treatment, before being transferred to Duchess International Hospital in Ikeja for further care. Hospital staff subsequently notified the Lagos State Police Command that a gunshot victim had been brought in. Confirming the […]
Related
Iran war: Falana urges Nigeria to work with other countries to pressure Trump
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called on Nigeria to collaborate with other countries to mount diplomatic pressure on United States President Donald Trump over the ongoing war involving Iran, Israel and the US. Falana said Nigeria should revive its tradition of multilateral diplomacy, like in the days of the Non Aligned Movement, by working with other nations to ensure respect for international law and to push for restraint on all sides. He criticised Trump for what he described as contempt for international law and United Nations resolutions, noting that the US under his watch has withdrawn from dozens of UN decisions. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria argued that Nigeria and other countries must persuade global powers such as China and Russia to intervene diplomatically in the crisis, since they wield significant influence over […]
Police investigate alleged shooting of comedian Broda Shaggi
The police have opened an investigation into the alleged shooting of popular skit maker and comedian Samuel Perry, better known as Broda Shaggi, during a skit shoot in Ogun State. Reports say Broda Shaggi sustained a gunshot injury on Sunday afternoon while filming a comedy skit under the Sango Ota bridge in the Sango Ota area of Ogun. A police source quoted in multiple reports said the exact circumstances of the shooting remain unclear, but confirmed that the injury occurred at the location where he and his crew were working. He was first rushed to Blooming Care Hospital in the Alakuko area of Lagos, where he received initial treatment, before being transferred to Duchess International Hospital in Ikeja for further care. Hospital staff subsequently notified the Lagos State Police Command that a gunshot victim had been brought in. Confirming the […]
Anti terror war: Tinubu boosts military equipment for tougher security push
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has moved to further strengthen Nigeria’s anti terrorism and anti banditry campaign by boosting the supply of modern military equipment to the armed forces. He has approved the procurement of additional mine resistant ambush protected vehicles, armoured vehicles and patrol trucks to improve troop protection and battlefield mobility across all theatres of operation. The government has also refurbished more than 100 armoured fighting vehicles and returned them to active service as part of a wider effort to upgrade existing assets. Tinubu said his administration is committed to the full modernisation of the armed forces through better training, equipment and enhanced operational capacity to confront evolving threats. Beyond land platforms, the President has in recent months inducted new air assets into the Nigerian Air Force, including T 129 ATAK combat helicopters, A109S Trekker helicopters, King Air surveillance […]
Court warns Sowore, threatens to revoke bail and order his arrest
A Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to revoke the bail granted to activist and politician Omoyele Sowore and issue a warrant for his arrest in his ongoing cybercrime case. Sowore is standing trial on amended charges of cyberstalking and criminal defamation over social media posts in which he allegedly described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal” and made other statements the prosecution says could incite public disorder. The case was filed by the Department of State Services under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention and Amendment) Act, 2024. At the latest hearing, the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, expressed displeasure that Sowore was not in court. In a brief ruling, he warned that if the defendant fails to attend the next sitting, the court will revoke his bail and order his arrest so he can be produced by force. […]
FG designates Ikom Dam as strategic national asset
The Federal Government has declared the Ikom Dam in Cross River State a strategic national asset, underscoring its importance for water supply, irrigation, power and food security. Officials said the dam and its associated Boki Ikom Irrigation Project are central to plans to open up more than 2,000 hectares of arable land for large scale, commercially viable farming in the region. The Cross River Basin Development Authority described the scheme as a key intervention that can attract private and foreign investment and boost agro industrial value chains. By granting the “strategic asset” status, the government aims to prioritise funding, maintenance and security for the dam and related infrastructure. The move aligns with a wider policy shift that treats major dams and irrigation projects as critical to national development, climate resilience and rural employment. The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation […]
Senate confirms Dakingari as non career ambassador
The Senate has approved the appointment of former Kebbi State governor Saidu Usman Dakingari as a non career ambassador, following a fresh nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the confirmation during plenary after the lawmakers considered the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which screened Dakingari and recommended his approval. The confirmation puts an end to weeks of controversy over his earlier botched posting as ambassador to Turkey. In January, the presidency had named Dakingari among new ambassador designates and announced his posting to Turkey, claiming the appointments were drawn from 68 envoys confirmed by the Senate in December 2025. It later emerged that his name was not on the original list screened and approved by the upper chamber, forcing the presidency to withdraw the announcement and blame a “naming mix up.” To […]