A new study on DNA testing in Nigeria has revealed that 25% of paternity tests conducted over a recent one-year period returned a negative result, indicating the tested man was not the biological father of the child.
The data, drawn from Smart DNA Nigeria's 2025 annual report, covers tests administered between July 2024 and June 2025. While this figure shows a slight decrease from the previous year's 27%, the testing firm describes the consistent rate as a significant societal concern.
The report delves into the demographics and motivations behind the tests. It found that the vast majority of tests (88.2%) were initiated by men, with a strong representation from clients over the age of 41. Notably, most tests (83.7%) were sought for personal "peace of mind" rather than for legal purposes, which accounted for only a small fraction of cases.
A key finding identified a much higher rate of negative results for firstborn children, particularly sons, who had an exclusion rate of 64%.
The report also connected testing trends to broader social patterns, noting a surge in immigration-related DNA tests linked to Nigeria's "Japa" wave of emigration, often for documentation purposes. Geographically, testing was heavily concentrated in Lagos State, with the Lekki and Yaba areas being the most active centers.
Ethnically, Yoruba and Igbo clients constituted the majority of those seeking tests. The report highlighted that boys were tested more frequently than girls, suggesting a cultural focus on verifying male lineage.
In light of the findings, the report calls for urgent legal reforms, pointing out that Nigeria currently lacks specific laws addressing paternity fraud. It also recommended integrating DNA testing and counseling into public health and family planning frameworks.
Smart DNA emphasized that their data is based on individuals who already had suspicions about paternity and cautioned against applying the statistics to the entire Nigerian population. An operations manager for the company stated that the findings speak to deeper issues of "trust, relationships, and the legal and economic realities of Nigerian families today."
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