A new report by Smart DNA has revealed that one in every four Nigerian men who take paternity tests is not the biological father of the child in question
A new report by Smart DNA has revealed that one in every four Nigerian men who take paternity tests is not the biological father of the child in question. The 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, covering July 2024 to June 2025, showed a paternity exclusion rate of 25%, slightly lower than last year’s 27%.
“These findings are not just about science; they speak volumes about trust, relationships, and the economic and emotional realities of Nigerian families today,” said Elizabeth Digia, Operations Manager at Smart DNA.
The study found that firstborn children were the most affected, with 64% of firstborn sons testing negative. The report also noted a 13.1% rise in immigration-related DNA tests, driven by the ongoing “Japa” emigration wave.
Men accounted for 88.2% of test initiations, mostly older men, while 58.6% of children tested were under five. Experts warn that the absence of laws on paternity fraud leaves many men without legal recourse.