The World Bank Group has imposed a 30-month debarment on two Nigerian companies, Viva Atlantic Limited and Technology House Limited, alongside their CEO, Mr. Norman Bwuruk Didam, for engaging in fraudulent and corrupt practices linked to the National Social Safety Nets Project (NSSNP) in Nigeria.
The Washington-based institution revealed in a statement that an investigation uncovered serious violations of its Anticorruption Framework during a 2018 procurement process. The companies and Mr. Didam were found to have misrepresented conflicts of interest in bid submissions and accessed confidential tender information from public officials.
Viva Atlantic Limited and Mr. Didam also falsified experience records, submitted forged authorization letters, and provided inducements to officials involved in the project, which aims to support vulnerable Nigerian households.
The World Bank described these actions as fraudulent, collusive, and corrupt, prompting the enforcement of a 30-month debarment that bars the companies and Mr. Didam from participating in World Bank-funded projects. As part of settlement agreements, the parties admitted to their wrongdoing and agreed to meet strict integrity compliance conditions for reinstatement, including ethics training for Mr. Didam and internal policy reforms for both companies.
The companies have also committed to ongoing cooperation with the World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency. Due to their voluntary corrective actions, the debarment period was reduced. The sanctions also extend to other multilateral development banks, effectively excluding the companies and their CEO from projects funded by international financial institutions.
The World Bank reiterated its zero-tolerance approach to corruption and its commitment to ensuring that development funds reach those in need.
