Nigeria’s Paternity Crisis: 1 in 4 DNA Tests Negative
A new report by Smart DNA Nigeria has revealed that one in every four paternity tests conducted in the country still returns a negative result, highlighting a persistent paternity crisis and raising deeper questions about trust and family dynamics in Nigeria. In its 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, released this week, the Lagos-based genetic testing company disclosed that 25 per cent of paternity tests conducted between July 2024 and June 2025 showed that presumed fathers were not biologically related to the children in question. Although this figure is slightly lower than the 27 per cent recorded in 2024, the firm described it as a “worrying and consistent trend” that underscores the sensitive realities facing many households. “These findings are not just about science; they tell us something profound about trust, relationships, and the legal and economic realities of Nigerian families […]