Surface sediments from the Ologe lagoon in Nigeria were analyzed for 28 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The total concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (sigma(27)PAHs), excluding perylene, and potential carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (sigma cPAHs) in the sediments ranged from 60 to 202 ng/g (average: 137 ng/g) and 4 to 60 ng/g (average: 21 ng/g), respectively. Two-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were the dominant components accounting for approximately 54% of the total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected. The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediments indicated low level contamination when compared to those reported for similar samples from other regions of the world. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons compound diagnostic ratios, phenanthrene/anthracene, and fluoranthene/pyrene suggested that the PAHs in the sediments were mainly from pyrogenic sources, which may have resulted from incomplete combustion of fossil fuel from surrounding industrial estates, or occasional forest burning in the Mangrove forest bordering the lagoon.