Abstract: Measurement of patient dose is an essential tool in optimizing dose and protecting patient against the ionizing radiation during diagnostic radiology. Quantifying the patient dose safe guard both the patient undergoing examination and medical personnel from health hazard of ionizing radiation. In this study the entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) of 150 patients undergoing lumbar spine radiographic examinations in eight radiological departments in Southern part of Nigeria. Patient doses were evaluated based on IAEA code of practice using exposure factors. The calculated mean ESAK values ranged 1.68 mGy to 12.66 mGy for lumbar spine AP and ranged from1.91 mGy to 10.53 mGy for lumbar spine LAT. The results obtained in this study were compared with the values of doses reported in UK 2010 review and it was found to be higher in some health facilities. The higher doses observed in this survey can be attributed to the use of higher tube loading (mAs) during exposures, which shows lack of optimization of exposure settings.