25% of Nigerian men not biological fathers of their children, DNA report says
Smart DNA Nigeria has revealed that one in every four paternity tests conducted in Nigeria returns negative. This was contained in its 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report released on Sunday in Lagos, wherein the genetic testing company based in Lagos disclosed that 25% of paternity tests conducted between July 2024 and June 2025 showed that the supposed fathers were not the biological fathers to the children tested.
The DNA centre also highlighted a surge in immigration-related DNA cases as a result of the trending “Japa” (travelling abroad) wave, stating that DNA testing that has to do with immigration increased to 13.1% of all recorded cases between July 2024 and June 2025, as a result of families’ need for documentation as they seek to relocate abroad.
“The increase reflects the growing number of dual-citizenship by families securing foreign papers for their children, often as ‘second passport’ insurance.
“Many of our clients are dual-citizenship families processing DNA documentation for children, often as part of long-term emigration plans,” the center said.
The report also showed that Nigeria’s paternity exclusion was at 25%, meaning that in every four paternity tests, one result comes back negative. So, one in every four fathers tested is not the biological parent of the children tested. While the figure highlights unfaithfulness in some relationships, it is still somewhat lower than the 27% record of 2024.
The company’s Operations Manager Elizabeth Digia, who provided details on the report, said: “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.”
The report also disclosed that firstborn children, especially sons, were more likely to have negative paternity test results, as the records for firstborn boys is 64% exclusion rate, compared to other siblings given birth to later in the union.
It was also discovered, according to the report, that 88.2% of all paternity tests were requested by men, with only 11.8% initiated by women, and with middle-aged or older men, specifically from age 41 and above accounting for 45.5% of all tests.
The Operations Manager called for urgent interventions through legal reforms, healthcare integration, and public education, while requesting DNA testing to be fashioned into family programs.
She said: “Nigeria lacks specific paternity fraud laws, unlike South Africa, leaving men with little legal recourse after years of financial responsibility for children proven not to be theirs.
“Many believe DNA testing is only for wealthy families or assume physical resemblance guarantees paternity. Our role is to provide certainty through accurate testing while encouraging sensitive handling of this life-changing information.”
The report also shows that Children between the ages of zero and five made up majority of those tested (58.6%), as against the 54% record in 2024, showing a developing trend of parents seeking early clarity to avoid future issues
The center also said that 83.7% of DNA tests were done for the sake of clarity and peace of mind rather than legal requirements, with court-ordered tests constituting just 1.4%
“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,” the center said.
While the report revealed that Lagos State accounted for the bulk of DNA testing (69%), ethnic statistics showed the highest rate among Yoruba families (53%), followed by Igbo (31.3%), while Hausa participation remained minute at 1.2%, which might signify the impact of region and religion on DNA testing in Nigeria.
