DNA testing surges in Nigeria as report finds 25% of dads not biological parents Report
Nigeria’s paternity crisis has again been thrust into the spotlight, as the 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report from Smart DNA Nigeria revealed that one in every four presumed fathers is not the biological parent of their child.
The report, covering July 2024 to June 2025, showed that 25% of paternity tests excluded presumed fathers—only a slight drop from 27% in 2024—indicating a persistent pattern of mistrust, family strain, and rising demand for scientific verification of parenthood.
Firstborns at the Centre of the Crisis
The report highlighted that firstborn children were most likely to yield negative results, with firstborn sons showing the highest discrepancy at 64%. Firstborn daughters also recorded higher exclusion rates than later-born children, reinforcing a troubling trend that many men’s earliest suspicions are directed at their first child.
‘Japa’ Wave Drives Immigration Testing
Beyond family disputes, emigration emerged as a major factor driving the surge in DNA testing. Immigration-related cases jumped by 13.1%, making up a growing share of the total. According to Smart DNA, families are increasingly turning to DNA verification as part of relocation requirements, dual-citizenship processes, or to secure foreign documentation for children as a form of “second passport” insurance.
Who Requests the Tests?
The study revealed a sharp gender imbalance, with men initiating 88.2% of all tests, compared to women’s 11.8%. Most of the clients were older men aged 41 and above (45.5%), while the majority of tested children were between ages 0–5 (58.6%).
Geographically, Lagos remains the epicentre of DNA testing, accounting for 69% of all cases. Demand, however, is shifting within the state—tests on the Mainland dropped from 67.5% in 2024 to 59.4% this year, while the Island rose to 40.6%. Lekki (20.3%), Yaba (15.8%), Ajah (10.5%), and Ikorodu (10.5%) topped the list of neighbourhoods with the highest cases.
Ethnic breakdown showed Yoruba clients leading with 53%, followed by Igbo at 31.3% and Hausa at just 1.2%.
Why Nigerians Test
A vast majority—83.7%—requested tests for “peace of mind” rather than for court or legal purposes, with only 1.4% mandated by the courts. Male children were slightly more tested (53.8%) than females (46.2%), reflecting cultural anxieties around lineage, inheritance, and family honour.
Calls for Legal and Social Reform
Elizabeth Digia, Operations Manager at Smart DNA, said the findings reveal more than science—they expose deep cracks in family trust, cultural expectations, and the economic realities of Nigerian households.
“Nigeria lacks specific paternity fraud laws, unlike South Africa, leaving men with little legal recourse after discovering non-paternity despite years of financial responsibility,” she noted.
The report recommended legal reforms, integration of DNA testing into healthcare programmes, and educational outreach to dispel persistent misconceptions—such as the belief that physical resemblance guarantees paternity or that DNA testing is only for wealthy families.
