DNA Report Reveals 27% of Nigerian Men Are Not Biological Fathers

Smart DNA’s 2024 report on DNA testing trends in Nigeria, covering July 2023 to June 2024, has unveiled striking insights into societal, economic, and family dynamics, highlighting significant trends in paternity uncertainty and uncertainty and immigration-related DNA tests.

The report reveals that 27 per cent of paternity tests conducted returned negative results, indicating that iver one in four mean tested were not the biological fathers of the children.

Notably, the surge in DNA tests stems under the circumstance of the ‘Japa ‘ trend , as more Nigerians seek opportunities abroad.

The report highlights that Lagos was the dominant location for DNA testing, with 73.1 per cent of all tests conducted there.

This concentration reveals a stark economic divide between Lagos Mainland (67.5 per cent) and Island (32.5 per cent), pointing to disparities in access to testing services across Nigeria.

Furthermore, the Yoruba ethnic group accounted for 53 per cent of the tests, followed by the Igbo (31.3 per cent) and Hausa (1.20 per cent).

In response, Elizabeth Digia, Operations Manager at Smart DNA, underscores the high rate of negative paternity tests, and the surge in immigration-related testing as significant issues.

She also emphasized the need for extensive discussion and research into these trends, especially given the concentration of testing in Lagos and the implications for nationwide accessibility.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports indicates that most children tested were aged 0-5 (54.0 per cent), suggesting a preference for early paternity confirmation.

Men aged 41+ (45.6 per cent) and 31-40 (37.0 per cent) were the most likely to request tests, potentially due to economic capabilities or heightened paternity concerns.

Moreover, there was a slight gender bias in child testing, with more tests conducted on male children (52.8 per cent) compared to female children (47.2 per cent), hinting at a possible cultural preference for confirming paternity of male offspring.

Finally, the majority of tests (85.9 per cent) were conducted for ‘Peace of Mind,’ rather than legal reasons.