In a statement issued to newsmen, the World Bank disclosed that the project aimed at providing targeted financial assistance to poor and vulnerable households was compromised due to several unethical practices during a 2018 procurement and subsequent contract process.
The bank said that Viva Atlantic Limited, Technology House Limited, and Didam misrepresented a conflict of interest in their bids and accessed confidential tender information from public officials.
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It added that these actions constituted fraudulent and collusive practices under its Anti-corruption Framework.
The World Bank further noted that Viva Atlantic Limited and Didam falsified the company’s experience records, submitted fake manufacturer’s authorisation letters, and provided inducements to project officials, which it classified as corrupt practices.
These violations, according to the bank, undermined the integrity of the social safety net initiative designed to benefit Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
The debarment precludes the two companies and Didam from participating in World Bank-financed projects and operations for the specified period.
As part of their settlement agreements, the parties acknowledged their culpability and committed to meeting specified conditions, including enhanced compliance measures.
The conditions require Didam to complete individual ethics training, while the companies are mandated to improve their internal integrity compliance policies and implement corporate ethics training programmes in line with the bank’s Integrity Compliance Guidelines.
The bank highlighted that reduced debarment periods were granted due to the parties’ cooperation during investigations, voluntary corrective actions, self-imposed restraints from bidding for contracts, and the time elapsed since the infractions.
The World Bank reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in development projects, stressing that the sanctions demonstrate its zero-tolerance approach to corruption.