Smart DNA Nigeria has released its 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, showing that paternity disputes remain very common in the country. The report said that one in four DNA tests confirmed that the presumed father was not the biological parent.
The study, which covered July 2024 to June 2025, showed that family doubts are still strong, immigration-related DNA testing is rising, and cultural beliefs play a big role in how Nigerians use DNA services.
According to the report, 25 per cent of paternity tests in 2025 were negative. This is only a small drop from 27 per cent in 2024. Firstborn children were the most affected, with firstborn sons topping the list at 64 per cent. Smart DNA noted that this trend raises serious questions about trust and family stability, especially in urban areas.
The report also showed an increase in DNA tests for immigration purposes. These made up 13.1 per cent of all tests. The rise is linked to the ongoing “Japa” movement, as more families seek foreign citizenship and documents for their children moving abroad.
Gender and age patterns were also clear. Men ordered 88.2 per cent of the tests, usually due to long-standing doubts, while women requested only 11.8 per cent. Almost half of all tests were carried out by men aged 41 and above, showing that financial stability often influences such decisions.
Most of the children tested were between the ages of 0 and 5. This suggests that parents prefer to resolve doubts early in a child’s life.
Lagos remained the centre of DNA testing, with 69 per cent of cases coming from the state. The balance has shifted slightly, with 59.4 per cent of tests on the Mainland and 40.6 per cent on the Island. Lekki was the single top location, accounting for 20.3 per cent of all cases.
When broken down by ethnicity, Yoruba clients made up 53 per cent of cases, Igbo 31.3 per cent, while Hausa accounted for only 1.2 per cent. Smart DNA said this shows cultural differences in how paternity testing is viewed across communities.
The report also found that 83.7 per cent of the tests were carried out for “peace of mind” rather than for legal reasons. Court-ordered cases made up just 1.4 per cent. In most families, only one child was tested, showing that doubts are usually directed at a specific child. Boys were tested more than girls, reflecting traditional concerns about inheritance and family lineage.
Smart DNA’s Operations Manager, Elizabeth Digia, explained that the findings go beyond science. “These statistics tell us something important about trust, relationships, and the economic and legal realities of Nigerian families today,” she said. She stressed the importance of sensitivity when handling the life-changing results of DNA tests.
The report called for legal reforms to tackle paternity fraud, more use of DNA testing in healthcare, and better public education to clear misconceptions. It also reminded the public that the findings only reflect people who already had doubts and do not represent all Nigerian families.
