One in every four paternity tests in Nigeria returned negative results in the past year, according to the 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report released on Monday by Smart DNA Nigeria, the country’s leading DNA testing centre.
The findings reveal that 25% of presumed fathers tested were excluded, a slight drop from the 27% recorded in 2024.
The report shows that firstborn children were most likely to have negative DNA results, with firstborn sons accounting for 64% of all discrepancies. This highlights a persistent paternity crisis, raising questions about trust, family structure, and inheritance in Nigerian society.
A sharp rise in immigration-related DNA tests was also recorded, growing by 13.1% within the review period. The increase reflects the impact of Nigeria’s “Japa wave”, as families increasingly seek DNA verification for dual citizenship and relocation processes.
The report highlights a gender imbalance, with men initiating 88.2% of tests, compared to just 11.8% by women. Older men aged 41 and above represented the largest share of clients at 45.5%, while children aged 0–5 years accounted for 58.6% of tests.
Geographically, Lagos State dominated with 69% of all cases. However, demand is shifting within the state: Mainland requests dropped from 67.5% in 2024 to 59.4% this year, while the Island rose to 40.6%, with Lekki (20.3%), Yaba (15.8%), Ajah, and Ikorodu (10.5% each) leading in test requests.
Ethnic distribution revealed Yoruba clients dominated at 53%, followed by Igbo at 31.3%, while Hausa accounted for just 1.2%. Notably, 83.7% of tests were carried out for “peace of mind”, while only 1.4% were court-mandated, and 80% of families tested just one child, suggesting targeted suspicion.
Implications and Call for Reforms
Smart DNA noted that male children were tested slightly more (53.8%) than females (46.2%), reflecting cultural concerns over lineage and inheritance. “These findings are not just about science; they tell us something profound about trust, relationships, and the legal and economic realities of Nigerian families today,” said Elizabeth Digia, Operations Manager at Smart DNA.
The report recommends legal reforms to address paternity fraud, the integration of DNA testing into public health programmes, and educational outreach to dispel misconceptions about DNA testing in Nigeria. These steps, it suggests, are essential to curb the growing crisis and restore trust within families.