Smart DNA, the country’s leading DNA testing centre, has released its 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report, revealing a sharp increase in immigration-related DNA cases over the past year.
The findings highlight how Nigeria’s ongoing “Japa” wave marked by mass migration for education, work, and residency opportunities is reshaping demand for genetic testing.
According to the report, immigration DNA tests accounted for 13.1 per cent of all cases handled between July 2024 and June 2025, a significant rise compared to previous years.
The centre explained that many families are pursuing DNA verification to secure foreign documentation for children, particularly in dual-citizenship households, where such proof is often required for passports or residency permits.
“The increase reflects the growing number of families seeking ‘second passport’ insurance for their children,” Smart DNA noted in the report.
Beyond immigration, the report underscored that paternity disputes remain a major issue. Nigeria’s paternity exclusion rate stood at 25 per cent, indicating that one in four presumed fathers tested were not biologically related to the child in question.
Smart DNA said the findings shed light on broader social trends, from migration pressures to family dynamics, shaping modern Nigerian societies
