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Report of more children failing DNA test ignites fresh arguments

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Since the recent report that one in every four children fail DeoxyRibonucleic Acid, DNA, test, made headlines, discussions around what most people refer to as paternity scam has been raging across the country.

The argument is also about how unfaithful most women have become in marriage- a development believed in some quarters to be sending many men to their early graves.

DNA, responsible for one’s paternity, is a molecule that contains the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses. It’s essentially the master blueprint for life.

However, this test which is one of the breakthroughs in molecular biology has caused a lot of heartaches to many families. This is because when the result is contrary to what the man expects, it is not only the men that are left shattered, the children involved are equally disoriented, especially when they are already adults.

According to the latest study by Smart DNA Nigeria, covering data from July 2024 to June 2025, 25 percent of paternity tests returned negative, showing only a slight drop from the 27 percent in 2024.

The study further revealed that firstborn children were the most likely to yield to exclusions, with firstborn sons topping the list at 64 percent. Smart DNA said the trend raises troubling questions about family structures, trust and social stability in urban Nigeria.

Alongside domestic disputes, the report revealed a surge in immigration-related DNA testing, which accounted for 13.1 percent of all tests during the period.

The spike, according to the research, is linked to Nigeria’s ongoing “Japa” movement, as more families pursue foreign citizenship and documentation for children relocating abroad.

The data also showed sharp gender and age divides in testing patterns. It was established that men initiated 88.2 percent of all tests and this is often driven by long-standing doubts, while women accounted for just 11.8 percent.

Nearly half of all tests were ordered by men aged 41 and above, reflecting the influence of financial stability on decision-making. Meanwhile, most tests involved children aged zero to five suggesting parents’ preference for resolving doubts early.

Geographically, Lagos remained the hub for DNA testing, accounting for 69 percent of all cases, though the balance shifted from the Mainland which stood at 59.4 percent toward the Island at 40.6 percent. Lekki led as the single top location at 20.3 percent.

In terms of ethnicity, Yoruba clients made up 53 percent of cases, Igbo 31.3 percent and Hausa just 1.2 percent, a distribution that points to cultural differences in attitudes toward paternity testing, according to the report.

The report also found that 83.7 percent of tests were carried out for peace of mind rather than legal purposes with court-mandated cases making up only 1.4 percent.

Most families tested only one child, reinforcing the view that suspicions are typically targeted rather than broad. Boys were tested more frequently than girls, reflecting traditional concerns over inheritance and lineage.

According to the Operations Manager, Smart DNA, Elizabeth Digia, the findings reflect more than just scientific data. “These statistics tell us something profound about trust, relationships and the legal and economic realities of Nigerian families today,” she noted, emphasising the need for sensitivity in handling the life-changing outcomes of DNA testing.

The report called for legal reform to address paternity fraud, greater integration of DNA testing into healthcare and public education to counter misconceptions about DNA services.

It emphasised that the findings reflect clients with existing paternity concerns and should not be generalised to the wider population.

Now, with the outcome of the research findings in the public domain, the arguments have taken various forms.

Some people believe that it is not necessary so long as nobody is contesting ownership of the child with the father.

Those on this side of the argument are insisting that except there is a man somewhere, who is claiming ownership of one’s children, DNA test is not necessary. Their argument is that such a test could only unearth a life-long secret and cause emotional and psychological trauma that could even lead to insanity or even death.

A vocal voice on this side is a clinical psychologist with a private hospital in Lagos, Dr Dipo Olawale.

“If you ask me, I would say that a man should not just subject his children to a DNA test just because he is suspicious of his wife’s fidelity in the marriage, except there is a man somewhere, who is contesting ownership of his children.

“This is because if the test turns out positive, meaning that the children belong to another man that you don’t even know, it will only cause you emotional and psychological trauma

“And if you are a temperamental person, you could even kill your wife out of anger and end up in jail. So, why not bury your suspicion and let peace reign so long as nobody is claiming ownership of your children; that’s my position on that,” he told DAILY POST.

However, there are those who argue that it is necessary to go for a DNA test once a man becomes suspicious of his wife’s fidelity, whether another man is contesting ownership of the children or not.

Those on this divide are also saying that such action is to prevent future heartbreak.

Chief Wole Adegbola is one of those who believe that once a man suspects his wife of engaging in extramarital affairs, he should call for a DNA test.

He said it is to forestall future heartbreak, which could be difficult to bear at that point.

He said: “It is advisable to call for a DNA test on your children, especially when they are still children, if you suspect that your wife has not been faithful.

“I say this because I have seen a man who found out from his wife that their 28-year-old son, who had graduated from the University, was not his biological son. This revelation came just because they had a misunderstanding and the woman got angry and in fit of that anger, she spilled the beans.

“What do you expect such a man to do? Where do you expect him to go from there? After training a child from nursery school to the university level, your wife is telling you that the child is not yours after all, how do you explain that?

“So, it is always very important to know early so that even if you decide to train such a child or children, it will be a deliberate personal decision.

“This is also very important because some women are devils who have come into some men’s lives to destroy them.

“Such women will let the cat out of the bag when you least expect it, whether anybody is laying claim to the children or not.

“So, to avoid the psychological and emotional torture that comes with such future revelations, it is advisable to go for a DNA test early in marriage, especially where there are sufficient grounds for suspicion.”

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Trump administration cuts energy projects, freezes New York funding

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The Trump administration has announced plans to terminate dozens of clean energy projects and freeze billions of dollars for major projects in New York, intensifying a stand-off with Democrats over a US government shutdown.

US media outlets described the moves announced by the energy and transportation departments as part of the administration’s efforts to pressure Democrats in Congress to agree on a deal to end the shutdown.

US President Donald Trump had raced to enact hard-right policies even before the shutdown began after midnight on Tuesday, threatening mass firings and to slash government departments, and blaming Democrats for Congress’ failure to resolve a funding stand-off.

The Department of Energy announced on Thursday “the termination of 321 financial awards supporting 223 projects, resulting in a savings of approximately $7.56 billion for American taxpayers.”

It said in a statement that those projects — overseen by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and other bodies — “did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs… and would not provide a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars.”

However, recipients of federal funding have 30 days to appeal against a termination decision, and some have already begun the process, the statement said.

It did not list the projects in question.

In a post on social media platform X, Russell Vought, who heads the powerful Office of Management and Budget, called the slashed projects “Green New Scam funding” that was used to advance “the Left’s climate agenda”.

He listed the states affected by the decision. They include California, New York and 14 others — all blue states where Trump failed to win in the 2024 presidential elections.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the Trump administration had decided to cancel “up to $1.2 billion” slated for a major hydrogen energy project, threatening tens of thousands of jobs.

“In Trump’s America, energy policy is set by the highest bidder, economics and common sense be damned,” Newsom said in a statement, vowing to keep pursuing a “clean energy strategy… no matter what DC tries to dictate.”

In New York — the home state of top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — the Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday it was freezing nearly $18 billion in federal funding for two major infrastructure projects, the Second Avenue subway and Hudson Tunnel.

The move takes aim at diversity, equity and inclusion policies, according to the department’s statement, saying that subsidizing projects with “race- and sex-based contracting requirements… is unconstitutional, counter to civil rights laws, and a waste of taxpayer resources.”

The funds would be frozen until a “quick administrative review is complete,” it said.

“Thanks to the Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries shutdown, however, USDOT’s review of New York’s unconstitutional practices will take more time,” it added, saying that the department “has been forced to furlough the civil rights staff responsible for conducting this review.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement that halting funding for “critical infrastructure projects” was “political payback and an attack on New York.”

“Donald Trump has been clear: he is intent on using his reckless government shutdown to hurt the American people,” she said.

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Shettima returns to Abuja after attending UNGA, meetings in Germany

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and high-level engagements in Germany.

The vice president’s aircraft touched down at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in the early hours of Thursday, where he was received by senior government officials.

During the week-long engagements, Shettima delivered the President’s national statement at the UNGA, calling for comprehensive reforms of the global body.

Vice President Kashim Shettima is being welcomed some government officials at the airport. Photo: State House

He also advocated Africa’s sovereignty over its estimated $700 billion mineral resources and strengthened Nigeria’s partnerships with the United Kingdom, the Gates Foundation, and other international stakeholders.

In New York, Shettima met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who commended Nigeria’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

The vice president also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunities to global investors and assured members of the Nigerian diaspora of continued engagement in the Tinubu administration’s policies and programmes.

He later proceeded to Germany for further strategic meetings before returning to the country.

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Lagos unveils artisan certification to curb building collapse

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The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory has launched a new certification and training programme for artisans in the construction industry as part of efforts to stem the spate of building collapses in the state.

The initiative, known as the Certified Structural Integrated Programme, was unveiled at a stakeholders’ forum held in Ese-Offin and Badagry, where block moulders, bricklayers, concrete mixers, steel fabricators and welders converged to pledge support for safer construction practices.

In a statement on Thursday by the Lagos Government, General Manager of LSMTL, Olayinka Abdul, said the programme marked a decisive step in tackling recurring tragedies linked to substandard construction materials.

“Without artisans, there is no construction. But with you, we have the power to ensure every construction is safe, sound, and secure. We need to earnestly curb episodes of collapse in high-water-prone communities, and we do not want such in your community. It ends today,” he said.

According to the statement, the CSIP is a five-year assessment programme aimed at certifying construction materials as fit-for-purpose.

It will also produce an official directory of approved block moulders, concrete mixers and steel fabricators, to whom developers will be directed for supplies.

“This is not just about enforcement; it is about partnership and empowerment. Together, we can forge an unbreakable alliance that makes Lagos a model for building safety and integrity,” Abdul added.

Technical experts at the forum highlighted the scientific backing for the initiative. Director of the Soil and Geotechnics Unit, Engr. Abimbola Adebayo, stressed the need for mandatory soil tests before construction.

Similarly, Kayode Akinfeleye of the Technical Services Department advised builders to ensure architectural drawings are obtained and preserved, describing them as “a core requirement in the Lagos building process.”

Artisan guild leaders welcomed the initiative. Chairman of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, Alhaji Fabiyi Oyeleke, described frequent collapses as “disheartening” and commended the forum as a step in the right direction.

On his part, Chairman of the Lagos State Bricklayers Association, Mr. Fashina Aro, noted the peculiarities of Lagos’s swampy terrain and urged all stakeholders to ensure materials and soil tests are completed before bricklayers commence work on any site.

Building collapse has been a persistent challenge in Lagos, with many lives lost and substantial property damage over the years.

In recent incidents, emergency responders have had to rescue workers from collapsed structures.

PUNCH Online reports that rescue teams pulled eight workers from the debris of a collapsed building in September.

Reports by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild show Lagos accounts for about 55% of recorded building collapse incidents in Nigeria over the past several decades.

In response, Lagos has taken steps to strengthen bodies like the Lagos State Building Control Agency, enhancing enforcement, monitoring, and regulation of building standards.

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