World Bank Bans Two Nigerian Firms, CEO Over Corruption

The World Bank has imposed a 30-month debarment on two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, along with their Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Norman Didam, for engaging in fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt practices related to the National Social Safety Nets Project in Nigeria.

In a statement released on Monday, the World Bank revealed that the infractions occurred during a 2018 procurement process meant to provide financial aid to vulnerable Nigerian households. The companies and their CEO were found to have misrepresented conflicts of interest, accessed confidential tender information from public officials, falsified company experience records, submitted fake manufacturer authorization letters, and offered inducements to project officials.

The bank classified these actions as violations of its Anti-Corruption Framework, compromising the integrity of the social safety net initiative. As a result, the debarment prohibits the two firms and Didam from participating in World Bank-financed projects for the specified period.

As part of their settlement, the parties acknowledged their wrongdoing and agreed to meet several conditions, including enhanced compliance measures. Didam is required to complete individual ethics training, while the companies must improve internal integrity compliance policies and implement corporate ethics training programs in line with the World Bank’s guidelines.

The bank noted that the debarment period was reduced due to the cooperation of the involved parties during investigations, voluntary corrective actions, and self-imposed restrictions from bidding for contracts. The sanctions also qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under an agreement signed in April 2010.

Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability in development projects, the World Bank emphasized that the implicated parties must fulfill the stipulated conditions during the debarment period to regain eligibility for future World Bank-funded initiatives.