Smart DNA Nigeria has released its 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, revealing that paternity disputes remain widespread in the country, with one in four tests excluding the presumed father as the biological parent.

The study, covering data from July 2024 to June 2025, highlights persistent family uncertainties, growing demand for immigration-related testing, and striking cultural patterns shaping the use of DNA services in Nigeria.

The report found that 25 per cent of paternity tests returned negative results, only a slight drop from 27 per cent in 2024. Firstborn children were the most likely to yield exclusions, with firstborn sons topping the list at 64 per cent. Smart DNA said the trend raises troubling questions about family structures, trust, and social stability in urban Nigeria.

Alongside domestic disputes, the report revealed a surge in immigration-related DNA testing, which accounted for 13.1 per cent of all tests during the period. The spike is linked to Nigeria’s ongoing “Japa” movement, as more families pursue foreign citizenship and documentation for children relocating abroad.

The data also showed sharp gender and age divides in testing patterns. Men initiated 88.2 per cent of all tests, often driven by long-standing doubts, while women accounted for just 11.8 per cent.

Nearly half of all tests were ordered by men aged 41 and above, reflecting the influence of financial stability on decision-making. Meanwhile, most tests involved children aged 0 to five, suggesting parents’ preference for resolving doubts early.

Geographically, Lagos remained the hub for DNA testing, accounting for 69 per cent of all cases, though the balance shifted from the Mainland (59.4 per cent) towards the Island (40.6 per cent). Lekki led as the single top location at 20.3 per cent.

In terms of ethnicity, Yoruba clients made up 53 per cent of cases, Igbo 31.3 per cent, and Hausa just 1.2 per cent, a distribution that points to cultural differences in attitudes towards paternity testing.

The report also found that 83.7 per cent of tests were carried out for “peace of mind” rather than legal purposes, with court-mandated cases making up only 1.4 per cent. Most families tested only one child, reinforcing the view that suspicions are typically targeted rather than broad. Boys were tested more frequently than girls, reflecting traditional concerns over inheritance and lineage.

Operations Manager, Smart DNA, Elizabeth Digia, said the findings reflect more than just scientific data. “These statistics tell us something profound about trust, relationships, and the legal and economic realities of Nigerian families today,” she noted, emphasising the need for sensitivity in handling the life-changing outcomes of DNA testing.

The report called for legal reform to address paternity fraud, greater integration of DNA testing into healthcare, and public education to counter misconceptions about DNA services. It emphasised that the findings reflect clients with existing paternity concerns and should not be generalised to the wider population. (Daily Sun)