A new 2025 annual report by Smart DNA Nigeria reveals a persistent and troubling paternity crisis in the country, with 25 percent of paternity tests conducted returning negative results indicating that one in every four presumed fathers is not the biological parent of the child tested. Although slightly lower than the 27 percent recorded in 2024, the figure underscores ongoing trust issues within Nigerian families.
The report highlights that firstborn children, especially sons, are disproportionately affected, with firstborn boys showing a staggering 64 percent exclusion rate. Immigration-related DNA tests have risen sharply to 13.1 percent of total tests, fueled by Nigeria's increasing emigration wave, as families seek documentation for foreign relocation.
Men initiate most of the tests (88.2%), with older men (aged 41 and above) accounting for nearly half of all test requests, reflecting financial readiness and concerns about lineage. Most children tested are aged five and under, indicating a trend toward early verification to avoid future complexities. Testing is concentrated predominantly in Lagos, with affluent Island neighborhoods like Lekki and Ajah showing growing demand.
Ethnic distribution shows Yoruba families leading at 53%, followed by Igbo at 31.3%, while Hausa participation remains minimal, possibly due to cultural sensitivities around paternity testing.
The vast majority (83.7%) of tests are done for personal peace of mind rather than legal reasons, as current Nigerian law lacks specific provisions on paternity fraud. The report calls for urgent legal reforms and integration of DNA testing into health and premarital counseling frameworks to address social and economic challenges linked to paternity disputes.
Smart DNA emphasizes that its data, drawn from those with paternity doubts, should not be generalized to the entire population but underscores the complex societal issues underlying family trust and identity in Nigeria today.