Fresh concerns have followed the release of the 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report by a Lagos-based centre, which revealed that Nigeria’s paternity exclusion rate is now 25 per cent.
This means one in every four men tested is not the biological father of the child in question.
The report, published by Smart DNA during the week, also showed that firstborn children are most affected, with firstborn sons making up 64 per cent of negative results.
The findings have sparked nationwide debate, with many men saying they would now test their children to confirm paternity and clear any doubts.
A Lagos tech entrepreneur, Samuel Adegbite, said he was planning DNA tests for his children.
“I trust my wife, and I even feel bad thinking about it. But for peace of mind, I will do the tests soon. Every man has that little ‘what if’ feeling,” he said.
Another father, Emeka Njoku, an accounts manager, said he would test his children when he could afford it.
He explained that though he trusted his wife, two of his children had very different personalities compared to him and his wife. This, he said, made him curious about their paternity.
But not all men shared these doubts. Alabi James, a fashion designer with three children, said he had full trust in his wife.
“I see my family traits in my children. Trust is the key. Suspicion comes only when trust is broken,” he said.
Another father, Mr. Odunusi, also said he had no reason to doubt his children’s paternity because they strongly resembled him.
However, Emmanuel Ajayi described the DNA trend as “scary,” saying it could emotionally devastate fathers. He admitted he might do it if he could afford it.
For Chibueze Uzor, a father of four, DNA testing is important but not urgent. “I will do it someday, but not because I doubt. Just to clear doubts,” he said.
Expert view: Resemblance can misleadA genetic expert, Dede Gilbert of Easy Genetics, explained how DNA testing works.
He said everyone has 23 pairs of chromosomes, which are analyzed during tests to calculate the paternity index.
He explained that samples are taken from the alleged father and child, or from relatives if the father is unavailable.
On cost, he said DNA testing in Nigeria ranges from ₦400,000 to ₦1 million, depending on the lab.
He warned that physical resemblance is not reliable, because children can look like people who are not related.
Gilbert also said the statistics in reports are often misunderstood because most people who come for DNA tests already have strong suspicions.
“This group is a skewed population, so their results don’t represent the entire society,” he added.
Another consultant, Ayodele Adeniyi, said two to three out of 10 tests in their lab show negative results, but again, most clients already suspect infidelity.
A nurse, Happiness Ogenyi, urged families to do DNA tests if they could afford it.
She said one in 10 cases at her centre revealed non-paternity, but if there was trust in the family, there was no need to worry.
She added that tests also help in health and immigration cases, with costs around ₦290,000 and results in four weeks.
Traditional ‘DNA’Before scientific testing, some Nigerian communities used cultural methods to check paternity.
Efunsetan Ifagbemi said some riverine communities carried out rituals by placing a child in water. If the child floated or was “accepted” by the river, paternity was considered legitimate.
Some Igbo communities also relied on divination oracles to determine a child’s lineage.
But these practices are risky and unreliable. Human rights groups describe them as child abuse, while experts insist only science can give accurate results.
Celebrities and DNA scandalsDNA controversies have repeatedly shaken Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
The most recent case was linked to late singer Mohbad, whose father demanded a DNA test for his grandson, Liam, after the artist’s sudden death in 2023.
Afrobeats star Davido has also faced multiple paternity disputes. In one case, a woman alleged he fathered her daughter, but a DNA test showed otherwise.
Broadcaster Nedu Wazobia and Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti have also publicly revealed that DNA tests proved some of their children were not biologically theirs.
Kuti said he accepted the results but added that whether or not to test remains a personal decision for every parent.
