World Bank Debars Nigerian Companies Over Corruption in Social Safety Project
The World Bank has announced a 30-month debarment of two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, along with their Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Norman Didam, for engaging in fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices tied to the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria. The project, intended to provide financial assistance to vulnerable households, was severely compromised due to unethical activities during the 2018 procurement process and contract handling.
In a statement released on Monday, the World Bank confirmed that the companies and their CEO violated several ethical standards outlined in the bank’s Anti-Corruption Framework. These included misrepresenting conflicts of interest, accessing confidential tender information from public officials, and submitting falsified documents.
Viva Atlantic and Technology House Face 30-Month Ban for Fraudulent Practices
The World Bank’s investigation revealed that Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, along with their Managing Director, Mr. Didam, had engaged in serious misconduct, including falsifying experience records, submitting counterfeit manufacturer’s authorization letters, and offering bribes to project officials. These actions were deemed fraudulent and corrupt, undermining the integrity of a project designed to assist Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
The statement clarified that the companies misrepresented their qualifications and received confidential information from public officials, actions that violate the bank’s strict rules against corruption and collusion in tendering processes. The sanctions will prevent them from participating in World Bank-funded projects for the next 30 months.
World Bank Sanctions Nigerian Firms Over Corruption in Social Welfare Initiative
The sanctions against Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Mr. Didam are a result of unethical conduct discovered during the 2018 procurement process for the National Social Safety Nets Project. The World Bank found that the companies and their CEO had falsified key documents, offered inducements to officials, and gained unfair advantages by manipulating the bidding process.
In addition to the debarment, the companies and Mr. Didam have committed to fulfilling a series of corrective actions as part of their settlement agreements. These measures include completing ethics training, improving internal compliance structures, and implementing enhanced corporate governance practices in line with the World Bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
Managing Director and Companies Debarred by World Bank for Unethical Tendering
The World Bank has imposed a 30-month debarment on two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, as well as their Managing Director, Mr. Norman Didam, for engaging in fraudulent and corrupt practices during the 2018 procurement process for the National Social Safety Nets Project. These violations included falsifying experience claims, submitting counterfeit authorization letters, and offering bribes to project officials.
The debarment period will prevent the companies and their CEO from participating in World Bank-funded projects for 30 months, but reduced penalties were granted due to their cooperation with the investigation. In their settlement agreements, the companies have agreed to implement improved internal compliance policies and ethics training, ensuring they meet the World Bank’s rigorous standards moving forward.
