NECO Moves to Curb Exam Leaks via WhatsApp, Targets Telecom Lines Linked to Malpractice

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has intensified efforts to combat examination malpractice, particularly the growing trend of question leaks circulated through WhatsApp and other digital platforms.

Mr. Ahmed Bagwai, Chairman of NECO’s Annual Posting Calendar Implementation Committee (APCIC), revealed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Wednesday.

Bagwai disclosed that NECO has initiated legal proceedings to obtain a court order to block telephone lines identified as being used in the distribution of leaked exam questions. He said a motion ex parte has already been prepared, with plans to file it at the Suleja Division of the Niger State High Court once finalized.

According to Bagwai, NECO is actively collaborating with national anti-corruption and regulatory bodies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) through its Examination Intelligence Committee.

“These collaborative efforts have significantly reduced early leaks of exam papers. Fraudsters now find it much harder to access questions a day or two before the exam,” he explained. “However, some leaks still occur just hours before exams, often pointing to breaches at the non-daily custodian level—possibly involving some supervisors.”

Bagwai appealed to the public, the media, and security agencies to join forces in protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s national examinations.

Despite these efforts, NAN reports from on-ground monitoring indicate that WhatsApp groups have become digital marketplaces for exam content. Leaked question papers are reportedly sold for between ₦500 and ₦3,500 via fintech platforms, reaching students across multiple states within hours of exams.

Some teachers and supervisors are reportedly complicit, accepting bribes from students and parents to facilitate the malpractice.

A teacher based in Ibadan, who spoke anonymously, confirmed the existence of these illicit channels and raised alarm over the widespread nature of the issue.

“Even joint state entrance exams are no longer immune. Social media influence, poor societal values, and parental complicity are driving this crisis,” the teacher said.

The educator called for stricter penalties and increased community involvement, warning that the continued erosion of examination integrity poses a grave threat to the future of Nigeria’s education system.

Another source described the situation as a “booming underground business” and emphasized the need for urgent, coordinated action to dismantle the network of digital exam fraud.