Water project: AfDB debars Nigerian company for 18 months over ‘fraudulent practices’

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has announced 18-month debarment of Sargittarius Nigeria Limited, an engineering company, and its affiliates, with effect from July 28, 2021.

It listed Sargittarius Henan Water Conservancy Engineering Limited as one of the company’s affiliates debarred from participating in AfDB- financed projects.

In April, the Bank debarred Maxicare Company (Nigeria) Limited, another Nigerian company, for alleged fraudulent practices.

In a statement on Tuesday, AfDB said Sargittarius’ debarment was instituted after its office of integrity and anti-corruption conducted an investigation and established fraudulent practices.

The company was said to have engaged in the act during tenders for the construction of water infrastructure in Ibadan, Nigeria, under the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project in Nigeria.

“The debarment renders Sargittarius Nigeria Limited and its affiliates ineligible to participate in Bank Group-financed projects during the debarment period,” the statement reads.

“Additionally, the debarment qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, including the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank Group.

“At the expiry of the debarment period, Sargittarius Nigeria Limited will only be eligible to resume participation in African Development Bank Group-financed projects on the condition that it implements an integrity compliance program consistent with the Bank’s guidelines.”

AfDB said the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project is aimed at improving access to safe water supply and sanitation services in the cities of Ibadan and Jalingo.

It noted that the project was co-financed by the African Development Fund, an entity of the AfDB, and the Nigerian government.