World Bank Imposes Ban on Two Nigerian Firms and CEO for Corruption
The World Bank Group has imposed a 30-month ban on two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, along with their Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Norman Didam, for fraudulent and corrupt practices tied to the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.
The project, designed to provide financial assistance to vulnerable households, was compromised by unethical activities during the 2018 procurement and contract processes. The World Bank disclosed that the firms and their CEO misrepresented conflicts of interest, falsified experience records, submitted fake documents, and offered inducements to public officials.
The bank classified these actions as violations under its Anti-Corruption Framework, undermining the integrity of the initiative aimed at supporting Nigeria’s most disadvantaged populations.
The debarment prevents the companies and Didam from participating in World Bank-financed projects for the specified period. As part of their settlement, the parties acknowledged their misconduct and committed to implementing enhanced compliance measures, including corporate ethics training and individual ethics programs for Didam.
The bank noted that the debarment periods were reduced due to their cooperation during investigations, voluntary corrective actions, and the time elapsed since the violations. The sanctions also qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under an international agreement.
The World Bank emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability in development projects, reiterating its zero-tolerance stance on corruption. The implicated parties must meet stipulated conditions during the debarment period to regain eligibility for future Bank-funded projects.
