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SGS Inspection Services Nigeria Ltd. has expanded its oil, gas and chemical laboratory capabilities to conduct comprehensive crude oil assay analysis, strengthening its capacity to support Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
The expanded laboratory capabilities were highlighted during a visit by Switzerland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Mr Patrick Egloff, and the Consul General of the Swiss Consulate in Lagos, Madam Conny Camenzind, to SGS Nigeria’s facility in Apapa, Lagos, where the delegation toured the company’s newly built crude oil assay laboratory.
The visit provided an opportunity for the Swiss diplomatic representatives to gain first-hand insight into SGS Nigeria’s technical capabilities, its investment in local infrastructure and expertise, and its contribution to Nigeria’s petroleum industry and wider business environment.
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of SGS Nigeria, the company’s Chairman, Mr Francis Ogboro, expressed delight at the visit and commended the diplomatic representatives for their interest in the company’s Nigerian operations.
Ogboro highlighted SGS’s global reach, noting that the organisation operates in 115 countries, with more than 2,500 offices and laboratories.
He said the company’s strength lies in combining its international network and technical expertise with locally developed talent to deliver services that meet the needs of businesses across different sectors.
He further stated that, SGS Inspection Services Nigeria Ltd. operates as a member of the SGS S.A. Group while maintaining a majority Nigerian shareholding structure.
According to him, SGS Nigeria’s operations are driven by Nigerian professionals who draw on the knowledge, capabilities and resources of the wider global organisation to provide specialised services to local industries.
He also outlined the company’s broad range of services, covering testing, inspection, certification, training and consulting, which help businesses build trust, improve confidence in their products and processes, and participate more effectively in domestic and international trade.
“A key highlight of the visit was SGS Nigeria’s expanded oil, gas and chemical laboratory capability, which now includes comprehensive crude oil assay analysis. The service represents an addition to the company’s technical support for Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
“Crude oil assay analysis provides detailed information about the properties and composition of crude oil, helping industry operators assess its characteristics for processing, refining, blending and commercial purposes.
“The expanded capability also reflects SGS Nigeria’s approach of combining international technical resources with locally developed expertise and infrastructure to provide specialised services within the country,” he said.
Ogboro said the company would continue to leverage its global network and local capabilities to support industries, promote confidence in business transactions and deliver value to the Nigerian market.
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He noted that SGS’s operations in Nigeria span several areas of the economy, including natural resources, oil, gas and chemical testing and analysis, metering and calibration, industries and environment, business assurance, and trade facilitation.
The company’s services, he explained, are designed to help businesses meet technical requirements, improve operational confidence and facilitate trade across domestic and international markets.
Speaking during the visit, Switzerland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Mr Patrick Egloff, commended SGS for its contributions to the Nigerian business environment through local expertise, management and investment in indigenous capacity.
Egloff described the opportunity to learn more about the company’s operations as valuable to his work as Ambassador, noting that direct engagement with businesses provides important insights into the realities of Swiss investment and commercial activity in Nigeria.
“What I especially like when I see it is that it is a Swiss company, but it is locally engineered, locally managed, and locally driven. And I think this tells a lot about the strength of SGS here, and also the business model of SGS and of many Swiss companies,” he said.
He emphasised that investment in local talent and capabilities remains an important feature of Swiss companies operating abroad, adding that Nigeria possesses considerable local expertise that can support industrial growth and economic development.
He said his long experience in the diplomatic service had repeatedly brought him into contact with SGS and its activities in different countries.
Egloff expressed appreciation to the SGS leadership for the invitation, explaining that the visit provided an opportunity to better understand the company’s work on the ground, its technical operations and its contribution to the Nigerian economy.
According to the Ambassador, Nigeria remains an important market for Swiss companies, with more than 50 Swiss companies currently operating in the country.
He noted that the scale of Nigeria’s economy and its considerable business opportunities continue to make it an attractive destination for Swiss investment.
However, Ogboro noted that the company was incorporated in July 1957 and would mark its 70th anniversary of operations in Nigeria in 2027.
He said the milestone reflects decades of operations and contributions to the Nigerian market, guided by SGS’s business principles, including integrity, respect, quality and professionalism, health, safety and environment, sustainability, and leadership.
