A new report has revealed that paternity fraud remains a major issue in Nigeria, showing that one in every four men are not the biological fathers of their presumed children.

 

The 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report released by Smart DNA Nigeria disclosed that 25 per cent of men tested between July 2024 and June 2025 were not the biological parents of the children in question. Although the figure reflects a slight drop from the 27 per cent recorded in 2024, analysts say the findings still underscore deep concerns about trust and family dynamics in the country.

 

The report further revealed that firstborn children were disproportionately affected, with firstborn sons recording the highest discrepancy rate at 64 per cent.

 

Beyond paternity concerns, the study also highlighted a sharp rise in immigration-related DNA testing, which accounted for 13.1 per cent of all cases. This surge was linked to the “Japa” phenomenon, Nigeria’s ongoing wave of mass emigration, as families increasingly required DNA proof of parentage for relocation and dual citizenship processes.

 

Findings also showed that men overwhelmingly drove DNA inquiries, initiating 88.2 per cent of tests, compared to 11.8 per cent by women. Nearly half of these men were over 41 years old, a trend experts associate with financial stability and long-standing doubts being resolved later in life.

 

Children under five were the most frequently tested, making up 58.6 per cent of all cases, with male children slightly more tested than females (53.8 per cent versus 46.2 per cent). Analysts say this reflects cultural concerns about inheritance and lineage.

 

Geographically, Lagos dominated testing with 69 per cent of cases, particularly in Lekki on the Island, while Yoruba clients made up the largest ethnic group at 53 per cent, followed by Igbo (31.3 per cent) and Hausa (1.2 per cent).

 

The report also noted that 83.7 per cent of tests were for personal reassurance rather than legal obligations, with only 1.4 per cent being court-mandated. Most families tested only one child, suggesting that suspicions were targeted rather than general.

 

Speaking on the findings, Elizabeth Digia, Operations Manager at Smart DNA Nigeria, stressed that the numbers go beyond science.

 

“These statistics tell us something profound about trust, relationships, and the legal and economic realities of Nigerian families today,” she said, urging sensitivity in handling the life-changing outcomes of DNA testing.

 

 

 

The revelations have once again revived public debate over whether DNA testing should be made compulsory in Nigeria as a safeguard for both parents and children.