A new report by Smart DNA Nigeria has revealed that one in every four paternity tests conducted in the country returns a negative result.
The Lagos-based genetic testing company, in its 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report released this week, disclosed that 25 per cent of paternity tests carried out between July 2024 and June 2025 confirmed that presumed fathers were not biologically related to the children.
Although slightly lower than the 27 per cent recorded in 2024, the firm described the figure as a “worrying and consistent trend.”
Smart DNA’s Operations Manager, Elizabeth Digia, said the findings highlight deeper issues beyond science.
“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,” she said. “Our role is to provide certainty through accurate testing while encouraging sensitive handling of the life-changing information our clients receive.”
According to the report, firstborn children, especially sons, were most affected, with firstborn boys showing a 64 per cent exclusion rate, far higher than later-born siblings.
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It also noted a sharp rise in immigration-related DNA testing, which accounted for 13.1 per cent of all tests, driven by the country’s mass emigration wave known as “Japa.” Many of the requests came from dual-citizenship families processing documents for relocation.
The report further revealed that men initiated 88.2 per cent of all paternity tests, with women accounting for just 11.8 per cent. Men aged 41 and above made up nearly half of the cases, suggesting that financial stability plays a role in initiating verification.
Children aged between zero and five years formed the largest group of those tested at 58.6 per cent, showing a growing trend of early clarification.
Lagos State accounted for 69 per cent of all DNA testing, with Lekki, Yaba, Ajah, Ikorodu, Surulere, and Ikeja emerging as top testing hubs. In ethnic distribution, Yoruba families dominated with 53 per cent, followed by Igbo (31.3 per cent), while Hausa participation remained very low at 1.2 per cent.
The report also showed that most DNA tests (83.7 per cent) were done for “peace of mind,” while court-ordered tests made up only 1.4 per cent. More male children (53.8 per cent) were tested, reflecting cultural emphasis on verifying male lineage
Digia stressed that the results should not be seen as representative of all Nigerian families.
“We’re seeing more people come forward with doubts they’ve harboured for years. Some of these cases involve emotional trauma and financial exploitation. A policy framework is overdue,” she added.
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