NECO exam questions were sold for N3,000 before tests, minister says

Nigeria’s education minister says examination malpractice became so entrenched that candidates could allegedly buy National Examinations Council questions for N3,000 before sitting the tests.

Tunji Alausa described the situation as “mind-boggling” at a meeting with private-school proprietors and other education stakeholders. He warned parents, teachers, school owners, principals, invigilators and students against practices that undermine public examinations.

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It’s sad. Before she and I came, the acceptance of examination malpractice, cheating and examination leakages in this country was mind-boggling, and the country accepted it. It was a nightmare.

Alausa said years of tolerance had created an unfair system. Students who studied for their exams could be disadvantaged by candidates who obtained leaked materials, while honest students might also turn to malpractice simply to compete.

Recalling earlier cases, the minister said people could obtain examination questions through a figure referred to as “Wushishi,” a name he said was associated with a dark website. He alleged that the questions were sold for N3,000 before the examination.

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The danger was that the good students would also become bad.

Alausa also described events during the 2025 examination period. He said he regularly received questions that had allegedly been obtained before candidates took their papers. Officials checked the material with examination authorities, he said, and sometimes confirmed that the circulated questions were the ones scheduled for that day.

“It’s sad. Before she and I came, the acceptance of examination malpractice, cheating and examination leakages in this country was mind-boggling, and the country accepted it. It was a nightmare,” Alausa said. He added that the danger was that “the good students would also become bad.”

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They bought the questions for N3,000 before the examination.