DNA Survey: 64% of Nigerian Firstborn Sons Fail Paternity Tests
Smart DNA Nigeria, the country’s foremost DNA testing centre, has released its 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, PulseNets learnt. The findings revealed that DNA testing in Nigeria rose sharply to 13.1 per cent in 2025, driven by persistent paternity doubts and an unprecedented surge in immigration-related testing.
According to the report, which analysed cases from July 2024 to June 2025, DNA testing continues to expose the realities of Nigeria’s evolving family structures. PulseNets learnt that the paternity exclusion rate remains at 25 per cent, underscoring a troubling trend in which one in four alleged fathers tested are not the biological parent.
“One in four tests is still negative. The 2025 data shows 25 per cent of paternity tests returned negative results, a slight decrease from 27 per cent in 2024, but maintaining the worrying trend where one in four presumed fathers are not the biological parent,” the centre said.
Firstborn Children More Likely to Face Paternity Discrepancies
The study further revealed, PulseNets reported, that firstborn children are significantly more likely to record negative paternity outcomes compared to their younger siblings.
While firstborn sons accounted for the highest rate of discrepancy at 64 per cent, firstborn daughters were also more likely to be biologically unrelated to presumed fathers than later-born children.
Immigration Testing Soars Amid Japa Movement
The report also highlighted how Nigeria’s emigration wave has transformed DNA testing demand.
“Immigration testing explodes amid ‘Japa’ wave. Immigration-related DNA testing surged to 13.1 per cent of all tests, reflecting Nigeria’s unprecedented emigration trend.
The increase indicates growing numbers of dual-citizenship families processing documentation for children’s relocation abroad, with many parents securing foreign documentation as ‘second passport’ insurance.
This consistent pattern raises serious questions about family structures, trust, and social arrangements in urban Nigeria,” the centre said.
PulseNets learnt that this rise directly ties to families seeking immigration clearance for children as the ‘Japa’ phenomenon continues to reshape household priorities.
Gender Gap in Testing Requests
Another major revelation from the 2025 report is the stark gender divide. Nearly nine out of 10 DNA test requests came from men, while women accounted for just 11.8 per cent.
The centre reported that this reflects entrenched gender roles in Nigerian society, where men predominantly initiate paternity verification, often after years of suspicion and doubt.
The report noted that “these findings are not just about science; they tell us something profound about trust, relationships, and the legal and economic realities of Nigerian families today.”
Calls for Reform and Public Education
Speaking to PulseNets, the operations manager of Smart DNA Nigeria, Elizabeth Digia, stressed that the report demands urgent policy, legal, and health interventions.
“Nigeria lacks specific paternity fraud laws, unlike South Africa, leaving men with little legal recourse when discovering non-paternity after years of financial responsibility. Public health campaigns should normalise paternity discussions and integrate DNA testing into pre-marital and family health programmes.
Misconceptions persist, including beliefs that DNA testing is only for wealthy families or that physical resemblance guarantees paternity. Our role is to provide certainty through accurate testing while encouraging sensitive handling of the life-changing information our clients receive,” Ms Digia said.
Cultural Breakdown of DNA Participation
PulseNets also learnt from the report that cultural representation in testing remains lopsided. A similar DNA survey conducted last year showed 53 per cent participation from Yoruba families, 33 per cent from Igbo, and just 1.2 per cent from Hausa households.
Also Read: Mohbad’s Father Insists on DNA Test for Singer’s Son Before Burial
The 2025 Smart DNA Nigeria report makes it clear that DNA testing is no longer a niche service but a mirror reflecting the trust deficit, family uncertainties, and migration-driven realities of Nigerian society. With paternity exclusion rates still alarming and immigration-related tests exploding, experts say Nigeria must urgently confront the social and legal implications of this growing phenomenon.
See what Nigerians think about paternity fraud:
