A new report by Lagos-based genetic testing company Smart DNA Nigeria has revealed that one in four paternity tests in the country continues to return a negative result, highlighting a persistent paternity crisis.
In its 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, covering July 2024 to June 2025, the firm disclosed that 25% of paternity tests showed the presumed fathers were not biologically related to the children. The figure is slightly lower than the 27% recorded in 2024, but the company described it as a “worrying and consistent trend.”
“These findings are not just about science; they speak to issues of trust, relationships, and the realities facing Nigerian families today,” said Smart DNA’s Operations Manager, Elizabeth Digia.
Key Findings from the Report
- Firstborn children, especially boys, were far more likely to have negative results, with a 64% exclusion rate.
- DNA tests linked to immigration jumped to 13.1% of all cases, reflecting the “Japa” wave of emigration.
- Nearly 9 out of 10 paternity tests (88.2%) were initiated by men, mostly those aged 41 and above.
- Kids between 0 and 5 years made up almost 60% of those tested, as parents increasingly seek early clarity.
- Lagos still leads in demand (69%), but high demand is shifting toward areas like Lekki, Yaba, Ajah, and Ikorodu.
The report also showed cultural trends, with Yoruba families making up 53% of clients, followed by Igbo (31.3%) and Hausa (1.2%). More male children were tested than female (53.8%), reflecting cultural emphasis on verifying male lineage for inheritance and family name preservation.
Call for Legal Reform
Smart DNA stressed the need for urgent legal reform, noting Nigeria has no specific laws on paternity fraud, unlike South Africa. It is recommended that DNA testing be integrated into family planning and premarital counselling.
“Some cases involve deep emotional trauma and even financial exploitation. A policy framework is long overdue,” Digia said.
The company clarified that its data reflects only families with prior doubts about paternity and should not be seen as representative of all Nigerian households.
Story by Vanguard Nigeria’s Chioma Obinna via https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/08/paternity-crisis-1-in-4-nigerian-fathers-not-biological-parents-report/
