In a press release, the African Development Bank indicates that its office of integrity and the fight against corruption (Piac) after investigation, decided to suspend the activities of the Nigerian company Gitto Costruzioni Generali in Cameroon, for a period 48 months (4 years). This sanction comes following fraudulent and obstructive practices carried out by the company during a call for tenders launched for the acquisition of road works within the framework of the Support Program for the transport sector-phase II.
This project concerns the rehabilitation of the Yaoundé-Bafoussam-Babadjou road, the development of the Grand Zambi-Kribi road as well as that of the Maroua-Bogo-Pouss road financed by the African Development Bank (ADB). According to the international financial institution, the program aims to meet the urgent socio-economic development needs in the West, Center and Far North regions of the country.
During the sanction period (since September 9, 2022, editor’s note), this company and its subsidiaries will not be eligible to participate in calls for tenders for projects financed by the AfDB group. “At the end of the exclusion period, the company Gitto Costruzioni Generali Nigeria LTD will not be eligible to participate in calls for tenders for projects financed by the AfDB group unless it has put in place implements an integrity compliance program in line with the Bank’s guidelines,” says the AfDB.
As a reminder, in November 2021, the Cameroonian Minister of Public Works (Mintp) Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, after several studies, the funder of the project, to send him his proposal for the award of the contract to Gitto Costruzioni Generali.
However, the market had suddenly been withdrawn from him in July 2022. For good reason, Gitto’s financial inability to carry out this project. After investigations in Cameroon and Nigeria, and finally the internal investigation of (Piac), the AfDB agreed with the Mintp. To date, the award process for this contract is still pending.
