Experts Explain Why Some Nigerian Men Are Not Biological Fathers of Their Children

By Onoja Baba, Abuja, Nigeria

Nigeria, in recent years, has witnessed a disturbing trend of paternity fraud, where children are discovered not to belong to their supposed fathers. Psychologists have linked this phenomenon to various factors, including medical errors, inaccuracies in genetic testing, and baby exchanges in hospitals, in addition to the commonly presumed causes of infidelity and deception.

Speaking with Healthwise, Dr. Juliet Ottoh, a clinical psychologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, and Dr. Samuel Olatoye, a psychologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, highlighted several reasons that could lead to a child’s paternity being questioned.

In the interviews, they noted that beyond infidelity, factors such as negligence, ignorance, and genetic testing errors also play significant roles.

Dr. Ottoh emphasized the importance of exploring multiple factors before concluding that infidelity is the cause of paternal discrepancies. She pointed out that negligence by medical staff, inaccuracies in genetic testing, and errors like baby exchanges in hospitals are also potential contributors to paternity issues. “It is not always entirely the couple’s fault. Sometimes, it might just be a result of test errors, ignorance, or negligence,” she said, stressing the need for thorough investigation and verification of genetic tests through reputable laboratories.

Dr. Olatoye also highlighted the role of genetic testing errors and the lack of pre-marital genetic testing in contributing to paternity disputes. He advised couples to seek genetic counselling and ensure they undergo thorough genetic testing before marriage. “Ensure you go to the right lab and consider getting a second opinion from another reputable lab to confirm your genotype. This will help prevent paternity disputes and ensure that couples are aware of their genetic compatibility,” he said.

Recent findings from a leading DNA testing center, Smart DNA, revealed that nearly 27 per cent of paternity tests conducted by the center in 2024 returned negative, indicating that more than one in four men tested were not the biological fathers of the children.

The report, made available to the media, also showed a significant geographical disparity in testing, with 73.1 per cent of all DNA tests conducted in Lagos. Furthermore, men were found to initiate most of the tests, with 88.2 per cent requested by men and only 11.8 per cent by women.

These findings have sparked further debate on the underlying causes of paternity fraud in Nigeria, with psychologists urging couples to build trust and communicate openly to avoid the emotional and psychological trauma associated with these issues. Dr. Ottoh noted, “The bedrock of every union should be trust. If you trust your partner, you don’t need to do a DNA test for such reasons.”

She warned that paternity fraud could lead to trust issues, mental health problems, and even physical health consequences for both the parents and the children involved.

The experts concluded that while infidelity is often presumed to be the primary cause of paternity fraud, it is crucial to consider other potential factors and seek professional guidance to prevent the breakdown of marriages and protect the well-being of all parties involved.