The World Bank Group has imposed a 30-month debarment on two Nigerian firms, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, along with their Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Norman Bwuruk Didam, for engaging in fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices linked to the National Social Safety Nets Project (NASSP) in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday, the World Bank revealed that unethical actions during a 2018 procurement process compromised the integrity of the project, which was designed to provide financial support to Nigeria’s poor and vulnerable households.
The statement read, “The World Bank Group today announced the 30-month debarment of two Nigeria-based companies—Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited—and their Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Norman Bwuruk Didam. The debarment is in connection with fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices as part of the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.”
The World Bank detailed several violations, including misrepresentation of conflict of interest, falsified experience records, fake manufacturer’s authorization letters, and improper access to confidential tender information from public officials.
“These actions constituted fraudulent and collusive practices under the bank’s Anti-corruption Framework,” the statement noted, adding that Viva Atlantic Limited and Mr. Didam also offered inducements to project officials, classified as corrupt practices.
The bank emphasized that such unethical actions undermined the initiative’s goal of supporting Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
Under the settlement agreements, Mr. Didam and the implicated companies acknowledged their wrongdoing and agreed to meet several conditions. These include implementing enhanced compliance measures, conducting corporate ethics training programs, and aligning with the World Bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
The bank specified that Mr. Didam must complete individual ethics training, while the companies are required to overhaul their internal compliance policies.
The World Bank stated that the 30-month debarment period was reduced due to the parties’ cooperation during investigations, corrective actions, and self-imposed bidding restraints.
“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 explained.
Additionally, the debarments qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the 2010 Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions.
The World Bank reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, emphasizing that transparency and accountability are essential for development projects. It noted that the implicated parties must fulfil all stipulated conditions during the debarment period to regain eligibility for future participation in Bank-funded initiatives.
“These sanctions underscore the World Bank’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in its development projects,” the statement concluded.
The debarment sends a strong message about the importance of ethical conduct and the consequences of violating anti-corruption measures in global development projects.
