WAEC Civic Education 2018 past questions

Checked by the Skolra question team · Last updated 23 October 2026

Ten questions from the 2018 WAEC Civic Education paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 44 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.

WAEC Civic Education 2018 questions and answers

1. 1.Which of the following may prevent a citizen from voting in a general election.
   1. A
      Being certified by a court to be of unsound mind
      Correct
   2. B
      Not belonging to any registered political party
   3. C
      Residing outside one's local government of origin
   4. D
      Lack of formal western education
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   Answer: A

   Being certified by a court to be of unsound mind is correct. Under Nigerian electoral law (the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution as amended), every citizen aged 18 and above has the right to register and vote, but a person who has been adjudged or certified to be of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction is specifically disqualified, because such a person is considered incapable of exercising independent, rational judgment in choosing a candidate.

2. 2.The crime rate in Aikara community which was notoriousy high before has drastically reduced in recent times. This has been attributed to the funds released by the government for youth empowerment in the community two years ago. From the above report, which of the following is the major consequence of the intervention programme
   1. A
      Increased employment opportunities for the youths in the community
   2. B
      Improved standard of living of the people in the community
   3. C
      Reduction in the crime rate in the community
      Correct
   4. D
      Increased revenue generation for the government
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   Answer: C

   The report states two things directly: the government released funds for youth empowerment in Aikara community two years ago, and since then the once-high crime rate has drastically reduced. The passage itself links these two facts as cause and effect, so the major consequence of the intervention programme, as reported, is the reduction in the crime rate in the community.

3. 3.The defence of the territorial integrity of a country by her people is part of?
   1. A
      Nationalism
   2. B
      National integration
   3. C
      Patriotism
      Correct
   4. D
      Citizenship
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   Answer: C

   Patriotism is the correct answer. Patriotism is the love, loyalty and devotion a citizen has for his or her country, and one of its clearest practical expressions is the willingness of the citizens to rise up and defend the territorial integrity of their nation whenever it is threatened — whether by external aggression or internal insurrection. A patriotic citizen sees the defence of the homeland as a personal duty, not just the job of the armed forces.

   So, when a question links "defence of a country's territorial integrity by her people" to a concept, it is pointing to patriotism.

4. 4.Which of the following concepts can guarantee adherence to the rule of law
   1. A
      Political gerrymandering
   2. B
      Political immunity
   3. C
      Representative democracy
      Correct
   4. D
      National development
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   Answer: C

   Representative democracy is the concept that can guarantee adherence to the rule of law. In a representative democracy, leaders are elected by the people and exercise power within limits set by the constitution and the law. Because officials hold office through the people's mandate and remain accountable to them, they are checked from acting above the law, and institutions such as the legislature and judiciary can hold them to account. This system supports separation of powers and makes it harder for any single office-holder to act arbitrarily, which is the essence of the rule of law — that everyone, including those in government, is subject to the law.

5. 5.A program established to foster common ties among Nigerians is
   1. A
      National Orientation Agency
   2. B
      National Youth Service Corps
      Correct
   3. C
      Unity Schools (Federal Government Colleges)
   4. D
      Federal Character Commission
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   Answer: B

   The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is the programme established to foster common ties among Nigerians. It was created in 1973, after the Nigerian Civil War, specifically to build national unity, integration and reconciliation by posting young graduates to serve in a state other than their own, so they live, work and bond with people of different ethnic groups, religions and cultures.

6. 6.The establishment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) by the government was a measure to?
   1. A
      To foster closer trade relations with foreign pharmaceutical companies
   2. B
      To boost government revenue through the sale of confiscated drugs
   3. C
      To curb the trafficking and abuse of hard drugs in the country
      Correct
   4. D
      To create job opportunities for unemployed graduates
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   Answer: C

   The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was established by the Nigerian government (Decree No. 48 of 1989/1990) specifically to tackle the growing problem of illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse in the country. Its core mandate is to arrest and prosecute drug traffickers, seize and destroy illegal drugs, and run public enlightenment campaigns against drug abuse. So curbing trafficking and abuse of hard drugs is correct.

7. 7.The saying ''ask for what you can do for your own country and not what your country can do for you'' denotes that
   1. A
      nationalism
   2. B
      national consciousness
   3. C
      patriotism
      Correct
   4. D
      civic responsibility
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   Answer: C

   This saying is a call for citizens to put service to the nation above personal gain or expectation — to give to the country rather than only demand from it. That attitude of selfless love, loyalty and readiness to serve and sacrifice for one's country is exactly what patriotism means in civic education.

   Why the others are tempting but wrong:

   Nationalism is often confused with patriotism, but it refers more to pride in one's nation and the belief in its superiority or interest over others, sometimes at the expense of other nations — it is not primarily about personal sacrifice for one's own country.

8. 8.The effect of queing up in public places is?
   1. A
      Humility
   2. B
      Orderliness
      Correct
   3. C
      Transparency
   4. D
      Honesty
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   Answer: B

   Queuing up in public places (at a bank, a bus stop, a petrol station, a government office) means people line up and wait their turn instead of rushing or pushing. The direct effect of this practice is orderliness — people are attended to one after another in a fair, organised sequence, which reduces confusion, overcrowding and conflict among those waiting.

9. 9.Which of the following is a way of preventing drug traficking?
   1. A
      Relaxing customs checks on goods to encourage foreign trade
   2. B
      Reducing the number of international flights and sea routes into the country
   3. C
      Strict surveillance and search operations at border posts, airports and seaports
      Correct
   4. D
      Legalising the possession of narcotic drugs for personal use
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   Answer: C

   Strict surveillance and search operations at border posts, airports and seaports is the correct way of preventing drug trafficking. Agencies such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Customs Service rely on thorough checks, scanning and intelligence at entry and exit points to intercept drug couriers and seize contraband before it enters or leaves the country. This, combined with public enlightenment and international cooperation among law enforcement agencies, is the standard civic-education answer for curbing drug trafficking.

10. 10.An organized group that is independent of the state could be described as?
    1. A
       Political party
    2. B
       Civil society
       Correct
    3. C
       Pressure group
    4. D
       Non-governmental organisation
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    Answer: B

    Civil society is the term the Civic Education curriculum uses for an organized group of people or associations that exists and operates independently of the state, yet is concerned with public affairs and the wellbeing of the community. It includes bodies such as trade unions, professional associations, religious organizations and community-based associations, none of which are arms of government.

    Because the question asks for the broad description of any organized group that stands apart from government, civil society is the correct answer.

The questions come from past JAMB, WAEC and NECO papers. We use software to help write the answer options and explanations, and every answer is checked twice before it goes on the site. How we check

Spotted a wrong answer? Tell us from the app or on the contact page and we check it.

Practise all 44 questions we hold from the 2018 paper, on a timed CBT screen

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