The African Development Bank (AfDB) on Tuesday announced the debarment of Sargittarius Nigeria Limited and its affiliates, including Sargittarius Henan Water Conservancy Engineering Limited, for 18-month effect from 28 July 2021 over contract tender sharp practices.
The development finance institution hinged its decision on the Nigeria-registered entity and its subsidiaries on the findings from an investigation conducted by the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption which indicated that the company engaged in fraudulent practices during tenders for the construction of water infrastructure in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
The project was part of the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project in Nigeria.
With the debarment, Sargittarius Nigeria Limited and its affiliates have been rendered ineligible to participate in Bank Group-financed projects during the debarment period.
In addition, 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.
According to the bank’s standard guidelines, at the expiry of the debarment period, the company and its subsidiaries will only be eligible to resume participation in AFDB-financed projects on condition that it implements an integrity compliance programme.
The AfDB-funded Nigeria’s 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, Taraba State, in Nigeria.
The project is co-financed by the African Development Fund (ADF), an entity of the AfDB Group, and the Nigerian government.
