Calls Grow for Mandatory DNA Testing at Birth Amid Nigeria’s Paternity Crisis

A rising number of Nigerians are pushing for DNA tests to be made compulsory at birth, following fresh revelations highlighting the scale of the country’s persistent paternity crisis.

The debate was reignited after Smart DNA Nigeria released its 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, which revealed that one in every four paternity tests conducted in the country returned a negative result.

According to the report, which covered the period from July 2024 to June 2025, 25 percent of presumed fathers tested were not the biological fathers of the children in question. While slightly lower than 2024’s 27 percent, the company described the figures as “a worrying and consistent trend.”

Smart DNA’s Operations Manager, Elizabeth Digia, noted:

“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.”

Following the release of ab an online poll report on X (formerly Twitter) to gauge public opinion on mandatory DNA testing at birth. Results showed that: 78% of respondents supported compulsory,  testing to prevent paternity disputes, 8.8% opposed the idea, citing concerns over privacy invasion, 13.2% were undecided, but insisted any testing policy must be properly regulated.

A second poll explored perceptions of who suffers most in paternity disputes. The majority (68.7%) said fathers bear the brunt, 23.4% said children, 5.6% pointed to mothers, while 2.3% believed society at large is most affected.

The online reactions reflect mounting concern over what experts are calling a deepening paternity crisis in Nigeria. Many are now urging lawmakers and health authorities to deliberate on whether mandatory DNA testing at birth should be adopted as national policy.