The activities of radionuclides in the two major groups of foodstuff widely consumed in Nigeria have been determined. The K-40 concentration range from 9.9 +/- 3.6 Bq kg(-1) to 298 +/- 14 Bq kg(-1) (av. 130 +/- 8.12 Bq kg(-1)). U-238 concentration range from 1.47 +/- 0.91 Bq kg(-1) to 39.5 +/- 9.9 Bq kg(-1) (av. 11.5 +/- 3.86 Bq kg(-1)), and Th-232 range from 3.50 +/- 1.85 Bq kg(-1) to 10.5 +/- 2.13 Bq kg(-1) (av. 6.78 +/- 2.13 Bq kg(-1)). Cs-137 was not detected in any of the foodstuffs analysed. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.