Nigeria has been ranked as the second-highest country globally for paternity fraud, trailing only Jamaica, with approximately 25-30% of paternity tests revealing that men are not the biological fathers of children they presumed to be theirs, according to a 2024 Smart DNA report covering trends from July 2023 to June 2024. The report indicates a 27% paternity exclusion rate in Nigeria, meaning one in four tested men is not the biological father. Jamaica leads with a 34.6% rate, while countries like Canada (2.8%) and the UK (1.6%) report significantly lower figures, highlighting disparities driven by cultural, economic, and testing access factors.
The high rate in Nigeria is attributed to societal pressures, financial dependency, and limited access to affordable DNA testing, which often leaves cases undetected until disputes arise, such as in immigration processes linked to the “Japa” migration trend. A Lagos-based DNA testing center noted that 85.9% of tests were conducted for “peace of mind,” reflecting deep trust issues within families. Experts like psychiatrist Maymunah Kadiri suggest women may conceal true paternity due to economic incentives or fear of social stigma, while forensic pathologist Femi Omotobora emphasized the medical risks, such as genetic mismatches for organ donations.
Calls for mandatory DNA testing at birth have emerged, but legal expert Kola Alapinni noted that Nigerian law presumes a child born within a marriage belongs to the husband, a presumption often debunked by DNA results.
