Daud Olatunji
The World Bank Group has imposed a 30-month debarment on two Nigerian companies, 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.
The sanctions are linked to their involvement in the National Social Safety Nets Project (NASSP), a key initiative aimed at providing financial aid to Nigeria’s poor and vulnerable households.
In a statement issued on Monday, the World Bank disclosed that the companies and their CEO misrepresented conflicts of interest, accessed confidential tender information, and falsified records during a 2018 procurement process and subsequent contract award.
These actions, the bank said, undermined the integrity of the project designed to alleviate poverty in Nigeria.
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.”
According to the World Bank, Viva Atlantic Limited and Mr. Didam falsified the company’s experience records, submitted fake manufacturer’s authorization letters, and provided inducements to project officials.
Additionally, the companies gained access to confidential tender information from public officials, violating the bank’s Anti-Corruption Framework.
“These actions constituted fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices under the World Bank’s Anticorruption Framework,” the statement said.
The debarment bars the two companies and Mr. Didam from participating in World Bank-financed projects for the next 30 months.
As part of a settlement agreement, they admitted their wrongdoing and agreed to implement measures to enhance compliance and integrity.
Key conditions include:completion of individual ethics training by Mr. Didam, development of improved internal compliance policies by the companies and implementation of corporate ethics training programs aligned with the World Bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
The bank noted that the debarment periods were reduced due to the parties’ cooperation during investigations, voluntary corrective actions, and self-imposed restraints from bidding for contracts.
The World Bank emphasized that the sanctions are eligible for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the 2010 Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions.
This means the banned entities may face restrictions across other international financial institutions.
“The companies also commit to continue to fully cooperate with the Bank Group Integrity Vice Presidency,” the statement added.
The World Bank reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, stressing that such actions erode trust and compromise development goals.
It urged the implicated parties to fulfill the stipulated conditions during the debarment period to regain eligibility for participation in future Bank-funded initiatives.
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