OMOTAYO, J. A.    Lagos, NIGERIA    July 12, 2012

I have my respect for the DG of the NAtional Orietation Agency. I still recall his "Heir Apparent" project, among others, that was a thriller. There have always been examination malpractices in decades. But I am afraid that in this very instance, the facts or the scale of the malpractices do not support his assertions.

What are these facts:
(i) How much could a student pay for an examination paper and how many students / parents can afford same or be wiling to throw away such sums? An average student takes 9 subjects at a sitting. At N10,000 (assumed as a limit) per subject, each student would need N90,000 for the exam. How many parents would pay N90,000 for examination malpractices when such a sum can get lesson teachers for a month or two before the examinations?

(ii) The total number of students required to get a N25 billion annual income (though illegal) is 277,778 on the average. The answer to question (i) is 277,778 (assuming a chid pler parent).

(iii) In 2011, only 1,540,250 students sat for WASCE (WEAC) in Nigeria. The total results withheld was 81,573 only.
(iv) Comparing (ii) and (iii), we note that the total number of results withheld was 29.37%. How did the remaining over 70% escape from being caught or suspected? Yet there were supposed to be experienced invigilators and examiners. What happened to them?

There are many more questions, but I wish to stop here.
God save Nigeria.