By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Benue State Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board (BEQAEB) has announced the successful distribution of examination materials for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to all 86 Custodian Centres across the state ahead of the commencement of the examination on Monday.

The Executive Secretary of BEQAEB, Dr. Terna Francis, disclosed that the materials have been safely received and secured at the designated centres and are ready for onward distribution to 1,995 examination centres spread across the 23 Local Government Areas, LGAs, of Benue State.

According to a statement issued by the Board’s Information Officer, Jeffrey Adzam, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, management has confirmed that all examination materials are intact and ready for the smooth conduct of the statewide examination.

“The Board is pleased to announce that all examination materials for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination have been successfully distributed to and received at all eighty-six Custodian Centres across Benue State.

“These materials are scheduled for onward distribution to one thousand nine hundred and ninety-five examination centres across the twenty-three Local Government Areas of the state,” the statement said.

Dr. Francis emphasized the importance of strict adherence to reporting protocols by Supervisors and Custodian Officers through the Board’s BECE Situation Room, established to monitor examination activities and ensure rapid response to emerging issues.

He directed Custodian Officers to provide regular updates on the condition and security of examination materials, the distribution and collection process, operational challenges, and any observations that could affect the smooth conduct of the examinations.

The Executive Secretary also tasked Supervisors with confirming receipt of materials at their assigned centres, reporting the commencement and conclusion of each day’s examination, and immediately flagging any shortages or discrepancies.

In addition, Supervisors were instructed to promptly report any actual or suspected examination paper leakage, as well as activities by individuals attempting to facilitate examination malpractice through inducement, collusion, unauthorized assistance, or other unethical practices.

“Supervisors are expected to provide any information relevant to ensuring the integrity, credibility, and successful conduct of the examination,” the statement added.

BEQAEB noted that all reports must be submitted through designated Situation Room telephone lines and hotlines to enable effective monitoring, timely intervention, and swift resolution of issues that may arise during the examination period.

The Board expressed confidence in the preparedness of its personnel and called for the cooperation, vigilance, and commitment of all Supervisors and Custodian Officers to guarantee a transparent, credible, and hitch-free conduct of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination across the state.

The examination is expected to involve thousands of candidates from public and private basic education schools across Benue state.