The West African Examinations Council has withheld the results of 167,486 candidates, representing 8.59 per cent of those who sat the 2026 Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination for School candidates, over alleged examination malpractice.

The figure, however, represents a decline from the 9.7 per cent recorded in 2025.

This was disclosed by the Head of WAEC Nigeria National Office, Dr Amos Dangut, who announced the release of the results in Lagos on Wednesday.

Dangut said the council withheld the affected results due to various infractions, including the increasing use of mobile phones in examination halls despite the existing ban and organised cheating in some schools, Vanguard reports.

“The increasing use of cell phones in the examination hall, in spite of the existing ban, and organised cheating in some schools, are other nagging issues,” Dangut said.

He added that some supervisors and invigilators found assisting candidates in malpractice had been arrested and would face disciplinary action through the relevant state ministries of education.

Performance breakdown

A total of 1,959,668 candidates from 24,207 schools registered for the examination across Nigeria, Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, while 1,950,726 candidates eventually sat for the examination.

Out of the candidates who took the examination:

1,200,514 candidates (61.54 per cent) obtained credits and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

1,687,378 candidates (86.50 per cent) secured credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, with or without English Language and Mathematics.

The number of candidates who obtained credits in five subjects including English and Mathematics dropped by 1.42 percentage points compared with the 2025 examination.

Of the 1.2 million candidates who achieved credits in English and Mathematics:

558,883 (28.65 per cent) were male.

641,631 (32.89 per cent) were female.

Overall, 997,267 females (51.12 per cent) and 953,459 males (48.88 per cent) participated in the examination.

WAEC said 1,834,695 candidates, representing 94.05 per cent, had their results fully processed and released, while the results of 116,031 candidates (5.95 per cent) were still being processed.

The council also disclosed that 1,213 candidates with special needs participated in the examination. They included:

137 visually impaired candidates;

491 candidates with hearing impairment;

55 spastic and mentally challenged candidates; and

41 physically challenged candidates.

The 2026 examination marked the second edition of the Computer-Based WASSCE for School Candidates, following the introduction of the format by WAEC.

Dangut said the council introduced several innovations, including the Digital Examiner Mark System to improve the speed of processing results, serialisation of question papers to curb malpractice, and a new portal that allows candidates to generate e-PINs directly for checking their results.

The examination was conducted between April 24 and June 19, 2026, with 102,708 examiners involved in marking across 88 marking venues.

Dangut, who described the briefing as his third and final engagement as WAEC Nigeria National Office head, said candidates sponsored by states indebted to the council would not have their results released until the outstanding payments were cleared.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reportedly placed a “Post No Debit” restriction on an Osun State Government account with First Bank, barely 10 days before the state’s governorship election.

The affected account is said to be one of the government’s salary accounts, a development that has heightened political tension ahead of the August 15 poll.

The action came shortly after Governor Ademola Adeleke raised the alarm over what he described as an alleged plan by the anti-graft agency to freeze the state’s accounts as well as those belonging to key government officials.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the governor condemned the reported move, describing it as an attempt to disrupt government operations in the build-up to the election.

Adeleke argued that the EFCC lacked the legal authority to freeze the state’s accounts, insisting that there was no lawful basis for such action.

A government source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that the account had already been restricted.

“The account has been frozen by the EFCC. This is no longer speculation. The governor will brief the public shortly on the development,” the source said.

As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had yet to issue an official statement explaining the action, while the reason for the restriction remained unclear. (Vanguard)

Enugu State Government-owned Airline, Enugu Air, on Tuesday – 4th August, 2026, signed a pact with Jands Travel Business School, JTBS, an Enugu based private travel, leisure and hospitality training institution to showcase Enugu’s potentials as a destination for leisure, business, investment and innovation.

The signing of the pact which took place
at Ifennia Court, Independence Layout, Enugu, is ahead of the hosting of the 2026 edition of the Domestic Tourism Festival, DTF, being organised by Jands Travel Business School to be held at Amadeo Event Centre, Enugu from September 4 – 6, 2026.

The forthcoming event with a theme: “Innovation and Technology for Peaceful Domestic Tourism,” is expected to draw about 2,000 delegates which includes 300 travel agencies from across Nigeria, alongside tourism boards, airlines, hospitality operators, investors and international guests, will feature tourism exhibition, business networking, cultural display and performances, among others.

In a remark at the occasion which was witnessed by Enugu Air representatives led by the Chief Operating Officer and Jands Travel Business School Board of Trustee members, the Chairman – Chief Ben Etiaba, said that it was an honour that they were partnering with Enugu Air to promote tourism and aviation in Enugu State.

“It is both an honour and a privilege to join you on this historic occasion as we witness the signing of a strategic partnership between Jands Travel Business School and Enugu Air.

“Today is about more than a Memorandum of Understanding. It is about a shared vision. It is about institutions coming together to build bridges between education and industry, between tourism and aviation, and between aspiration and opportunity.

“Tourism has become one of the world’s fastest growing economic sectors. It creates jobs, stimulates entrepreneurship, preserves culture, strengthens national identity, and contributes significantly to economic growth. Yet, for tourism to thrive, it requires reliable transportation, skilled professionals, innovative partnerships, and visionary leadership,” Etiaba said.

Etiaba explained the essence of the forthcoming three-day festival. “The forthcoming Jands Travel Business School’s Domestic Tourism Festival presents a unique opportunity to celebrate Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage while showcasing Enugu State as a destination for leisure, business, investment, and innovation.

“It is therefore fitting that Enugu Air, our state’s proudly emerging airline, is partnering with Jands Travel Business School, an institution committed to developing excellence in travel, tourism, hospitality, and aviation education.

“This collaboration demonstrates what can be achieved when government initiatives and private sector institutions work hand in hand. It aligns perfectly with the vision of transforming Enugu into a leading destination for commerce, tourism, investment, and ease of doing business. The remarkable improvements in infrastructure, security, and connectivity across the state provide a solid foundation upon which partnerships such as this can flourish.

“I particularly applaud the management of Enugu Air for embracing this collaboration at this formative stage of the airline’s journey. Your willingness to support initiatives that promote tourism and human capital development speaks volumes about your corporate vision and your commitment to the development of Enugu State and Nigeria,” he said, adding that, “I am confident that this partnership will become a model of successful collaboration and will contribute meaningfully to the growth of tourism, aviation, and economic development in our state and our nation.”

On her part, Mrs Chioma Obi, Director, Jands Travel Business School, expressed gratitude at the partnership they are striking with Enugu Air to drive tourism, aviation and the hospitality industry.

“It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the official announcement of the strategic partnership between Jands Travel Business School and Enugu Air for the Domestic Tourism Festival (DTF) 2026.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to promoting tourism, improving connectivity, and positioning Enugu as a preferred destination for tourism, business, and investment.

“The Domestic Tourism Festival, now in its third edition, has become a growing national platform for tourism development, bringing together government, the private sector, travel professionals, investors, academia, and development partners to advance meaningful conversations and collaborations,” she said.

She explained that the last edition of the festival was great but expressed optimism that 2026 edition would surpass.

“Last year’s edition welcomed 1,287 participants, and this year we expect over 2,000 delegates, including more than 300 travel agencies from across Nigeria, alongside tourism boards, airlines, hospitality operators, investors, media organizations, and international guests.

“Enugu Air is more than an airline—it is a gateway to our destination. By becoming the Official Destination Airline Partner of DTF 2026, Enugu Air will help make travel to Enugu easier while connecting directly with hundreds of travel professionals, tourism stakeholders, corporate organizations, and decision-makers from across the country.

“For Jands Travel Business School and the Domestic Tourism Festival, this partnership strengthens our mission of showcasing Enugu’s tourism potential, attracting investment, and creating new opportunities for businesses within the tourism value chain,” she said.

In his own remarks, the
Chief Operating Officer of Enugu Air, Ugonna Agubuokwu, expressed joy with the collaboration with Jands Travel Business School for their efforts in promoting the tourism industry, and promised to ensure that the September Festival will be a huge success.

“As an Airline, we are honoured to be at this event. We all know what tourism brings to our economy. It promotes growth and development. It tells story of who we are and above all, it generates revenue.

“On the strength of this event, we shall use this event as a gate way to showcase our routes and our domestic destinations, that is why we are happy to be a part of this great event. Having said this, I promise that come September 4 to 6, 2026, it will be a very big occasion for both the organisers of the event, Jands Travel Business School and above all, Enugu Air.”