Amid ongoing concerns about paternity disputes and declining trust within Nigerian households, a new report by Smart DNA Nigeria has revealed that one in every four paternity tests conducted in the country continues to return a negative result.
The findings, contained in the company’s 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report released this week, showed that 25 percent of paternity tests conducted between July 2024 and June 2025 confirmed that presumed fathers were not biologically related to the children involved.
Although slightly lower than the 27 percent recorded in 2024, the figures highlight what the firm described as a “worrying and consistent trend.”
Elizabeth Digia, Operations Manager at Smart DNA, explained the implications of the findings. “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. Our role is to provide certainty through accurate testing while encouraging sensitive handling of the life-changing information our clients receive.”
The report highlighted a striking trend among firstborn children, noting that they were more likely to produce negative results, particularly firstborn sons. According to the findings, firstborn boys recorded an exclusion rate of 64 percent, far higher than later-born siblings.
Another major development was the rise of immigration-related DNA testing, which accounted for 13.1 percent of all tests. This sharp increase has been linked to Nigeria’s emigration wave, popularly known as the “Japa” movement, as more families sought DNA verification for travel and residency documentation. “Many of our clients are dual-citizenship families processing DNA documentation for children, often as part of long-term emigration plans,” the report stated.
The study also revealed that men accounted for the vast majority of test initiations, 88.2 percent, compared to 11.8 percent initiated by women. Older men, especially those aged 41 and above, represented 45.5 percent of all tests, suggesting that financial stability is a key factor in seeking paternity verification.
Children between the ages of zero and five made up the bulk of those tested, at 58.6 percent, up from 54 percent the previous year. Analysts suggest this indicates a rising interest among parents in seeking early confirmation of paternity to prevent future disputes.
While Lagos remains the dominant hub for DNA testing, accounting for 69 percent of cases, the report showed a geographic shift in demand from the Mainland to the Island. Lekki (20.3 percent), Yaba (15.8 percent), Ajah and Ikorodu (10.5 percent each), and Surulere and Ikeja (9 percent each) ranked as the leading areas for DNA testing.
In terms of ethnicity, Yoruba families made up 53 percent of clients, followed by Igbo at 31.3 percent. Hausa participation remained very low at 1.2 percent, a figure analysts say reflects cultural differences in attitudes toward paternity testing.
The report also emphasized that most of the tests, 83.7 percent, were carried out for “peace of mind” rather than legal disputes, while court-ordered tests accounted for only 1.4 percent. Gender patterns among tested children further reflected cultural leanings, with 53.8 percent being male, underscoring the continued importance many families attach to confirming male lineage, inheritance rights, and family name preservation.
Commenting further, Digia noted, “We’re seeing more people come forward with doubts they’ve harboured for years. Some of these cases involve emotional trauma and even financial exploitation. A policy framework is overdue. Our figures reflect those who already had reason to question paternity, and as such, the results should not be extrapolated to all Nigerian families.”
What you should know
Smart DNA Nigeria’s 2025 report underscores the persistence of paternity disputes, with one in four tests still returning negative results.
The data also highlights cultural, economic, and migration-related factors shaping DNA testing in Nigeria, while showing that most families pursue it for personal assurance rather than legal battles.
