Men request nearly 90 per cent of paternity tests, while women account for just 11.8 per cent.
A new report from Smart DNA, Nigeria’s leading DNA testing centre, has revealed a worrying trend in family dynamics and identity verification, showing that paternity disputes and immigration-related cases are increasingly shaping household decisions across the country.
The 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, released on Sunday in Lagos, indicates that one in four presumed fathers tested are not the biological parents of their children, underscoring persistent uncertainties in family structures.
Firstborn children appear to be most affected, with firstborn sons accounting for 64 per cent of cases where paternity is disproved.
At the same time, immigration-related DNA cases have surged sharply, now comprising 13.1 per cent of all tests between July 2024 and June 2025.
The centre noted that this trend largely reflects dual-citizenship families securing foreign papers for their children as a form of ‘second passport’ insurance, demonstrating how global mobility concerns influence domestic decisions.
The report also highlights a significant gender divide in who initiates DNA testing: men request nearly 90 per cent of paternity tests, while women account for just 11.8 per cent.
Elizabeth Digia, Operations Manager at Smart DNA, emphasised the need for legal reform, healthcare integration, and public education.
“Unlike countries such as South Africa, Nigeria lacks specific paternity fraud laws, leaving men with limited recourse even after years of financial responsibility for children not biologically theirs,” she said.
Digia also called for integrating DNA testing into family health programs and premarital counselling, noting widespread misconceptions about testing.
“Many believe DNA testing is only for wealthy families or assume physical resemblance guarantees paternity.
“We aim to provide certainty while ensuring sensitive handling of this life-changing information,” she added.
The report concludes that rising DNA testing, whether for immigration or family verification, paints a complex picture of trust, identity, and socio-economic pressures shaping modern Nigerian households.
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