Tmagine this! A man works very hard to establish his life, gets himself a beautiful wife after fulfilling the bonds of matrimony, and settles into a life of marital bliss. And then comes a bouncing baby – the product of his conjugal obligations. After taking full responsibility for the child he thought was his biological offspring, whom he had raised for years, who calls him father, and with whom he has shared a deep bond, a DNA test suddenly breaks the news to him that the child is not his.
Abomination! Nothing could be more devastating for a man than such a harrowing discovery. Imagine waking up one day to the realisation that you are not the biological father of the child you proudly called yours. That can be life-shattering. Heartbreaking. Unfortunately, that is the growing reality in Nigeria.
Startling Exposés
A recent Annual DNA Testing Report revealed that 25 per cent of paternity tests conducted between July 2024 and June 2025 showed that the presumed fathers were not biologically related to the children. Put differently, 1 in every four children does not belong to the man believed to be the father. To call this alarming is, indeed, to say the least in the mildest way.
Some revelations from the report are particularly startling. For instance, it showed that with a 64 per cent exclusion rate, firstborn children, especially sons, are more likely to belong to another man than the presumed father.
However, there appears to be some relief, especially for men outside Lagos. The report noted that Lagos accounts for 69 per cent of all DNA testing conducted. Thus, one may assume that couples outside Lagos might heave a sigh of relief, as the result may not be entirely generalised.
But should those outside Lagos truly celebrate? I don’t think so. We all should be worried. On the flip side, the report gives a glimpse of what the reality could be if paternity testing were to be made compulsory nationwide.
Unhappy Unions
Overall, the findings suggest a crisis on the home front with far-reaching national implications. Anecdotal evidence shows that in Nigeria, many married couples are unhappy in their unions. Some marry out of convenience, not necessarily for love. This lack of emotional fulfilment, worsened by poor communication, provides fertile ground for extramarital affairs.
In addition, work and economic pressures have fueled what is often described as the absentee husband/wife syndrome. Many couples are married yet emotionally and physically distant, frequently seeking satisfaction outside the home. Sad, but this is the lived reality for many.
The report by the Lagos-based Smart DNA not only highlights the depth of trust deficit, infidelity, and deception among couples; it also exposes the enormity of the paternity crisis in Nigeria, pointing to the erosion of the country’s cherished value system.
Nigeria’s paternity fraud rate is estimated at 30 per cent, second only to Jamaica’s 34.6 per cent. Though the figure is debatable, it nonetheless illustrates the magnitude of a crisis capable of threatening the foundation of many families.
How come in a country where more than 80 per cent of its over 200 million people profess either Islam or Christianity, faiths that abhor and prescribe severe punishment for infidelity, there is still such a high rate of paternity fraud? The answer lies in the fact that among most Nigerians, trust is a scarce commodity.
A study titled “Infidelity Driven Paternity Crisis in Contemporary Times: Perceptions on Social Media Outbursts and DNA Testing,” by Kennedy Ebhojaye and Abediyagwa Markus James, found that emotional dissatisfaction, lack of communication, peer influence, and financial challenges are the major incentives for infidelity.
A Mandatory DNA Test?
There is no denying that DNA testing is a vital scientific tool for resolving paternity disputes, offering accurate and definitive answers about a child’s parentage. It helps settle conflicts when paternity is in doubt.
However, its revelations can escalate tensions, create an identity crisis, and cause emotional trauma and family breakdown when infidelity is exposed.
Could this be why France adopted a strict stance on DNA testing? In France, private paternity tests are illegal. They can only be conducted if ordered by a judge during formal legal or child support proceedings. Violators risk up to one year in prison and €15,000 in fines.
For the French, the reasoning is straightforward: why allow DNA testing if it risks family stability? Why do it when the revelations could trigger violence, marital collapse, and harm to women? Indeed, when DNA results turn negative, the aftermath often brings emotional trauma to men, women, and children alike.
Rational as France’s reasoning may sound, it does not erase the fact that DNA testing enables men to know the true identity of their children and saves them from raising children that are not theirs.
In light of the disturbing revelations from the Lagos DNA testing firm, I strongly subscribe to the argument that DNA tests should be made mandatory at birth. There is no greater injustice than compelling a man to take responsibility for a child that is not biologically his. Equally, it is a grave injustice to let a child grow up believing a man is his biological father when he is not.
I understand the fears of those opposed to compulsory DNA testing, particularly their concern that it may erode trust and destabilise marriages. But then, what is a family without trust? We need policies that balance truth, trust, and the well-being of children and men.
