The World Bank Group has announced the debarment of two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, along with their Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Norman Bwuruk Didam, for 30 months. The sanctions are linked to fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices tied to the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Monday, the World Bank disclosed that the project, which was designed to provide targeted financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households, was compromised due to unethical practices during the 2018 procurement process and subsequent contract implementation.
The bank detailed the misconduct, stating:
“Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Mr. Norman Bwuruk Didam misrepresented a conflict of interest in their bids and accessed confidential tender information from public officials, constituting fraudulent and collusive practices under the World Bank’s Anti-Corruption Framework.”
Additionally, Viva Atlantic Limited and Mr. Didam were found to have falsified the company’s experience records, submitted fake manufacturer authorization letters, and offered inducements to project officials—actions classified as corrupt practices. These violations undermined the integrity of the initiative aimed at supporting Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
The debarment precludes Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Mr. Didam from participating in World Bank-financed projects for the next 30 months. The sanctions also qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the 2010 Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions.
As part of a settlement agreement, the parties acknowledged their culpability and committed to implementing measures to prevent future violations. Mr. Didam is required to complete individual ethics training, while the companies must enhance their internal integrity compliance policies and establish corporate ethics training programs in line with the World Bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
The World Bank noted that the debarment periods were reduced due to the parties’ cooperation during investigations, voluntary corrective actions, and self-imposed restrictions from bidding for contracts.
“The settlement agreements feature reduced debarment periods due to the companies’ and Mr. Didam’s cooperation with the Bank Group’s investigation, voluntary corrective actions, voluntary restraint from participating in Bank Group tenders, and the passage of time,” the statement read.
The World Bank reiterated its commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in development projects. The institution emphasized that the sanctions demonstrate its zero-tolerance approach to corruption and warned that the implicated parties must fulfill all stipulated conditions during the debarment period to regain eligibility for future Bank-funded projects.
The National Social Safety Nets Project, which was intended to alleviate poverty, suffered setbacks due to the misconduct. However, the World Bank affirmed its determination to safeguard the integrity of development initiatives and ensure that assistance reaches those in need.
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