The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has passed a bill regulating house rent, real estate agency fees and the buying and selling of metal and electrical scraps across the state.
The legislation, known as the Ebonyi State Sale of Scraps, House Rent, and Agent Fees Regulation Law 2026, was passed on Tuesday during plenary at the Assembly Complex on Nkaliki Road, Abakaliki.
Presided over by the Speaker, Moses Odunwa, the law takes effect immediately.
The legislation seeks to curb the theft and vandalism of public infrastructure, protect tenants from arbitrary rent increases and regulate activities in the real estate and scrap markets.
Under the new law, the buying, selling, possession, transportation or disposal of metal and electrical scraps without the required licence is prohibited.
Anyone found guilty could face up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to ₦500,000, or both.
The law also provides for standard rent tariffs prescribed by the state government for applicable categories of residential accommodation.
Landlords are prohibited from charging rents above the prescribed rates.
It further provides that landlords who obtain possession orders through fraud, misrepresentation or concealment of material facts could be sentenced to up to two years in prison.
Agent Fees Capped at 2%
The Assembly also capped real estate agency fees at 2 per cent of the gross transaction value, applying to both professional and non-professional agents.
Estate agents operating within Abakaliki, the state capital, are required to register with the Ministry of the Capital City.
Presenting the bill, the Leader of the House, Kingsley Ikoro, urged lawmakers to support the legislation, saying it would help protect public infrastructure and vulnerable tenants.
Several lawmakers, including Victor Nwoke (Abakaliki North), Nwodo Nwodo (Ebonyi North West), Oluchukwu Ukie Ezeali (Afikpo East), Friday Ogbuewu (Ezza South) and Celestine Ogba (Onicha East), backed the measure.
They described it as a timely response to increasing cases of scrap theft and arbitrary rent increases by landlords.
Speaking after the bill passed its third reading following clause-by-clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole, Odunwa said scrap dealers had caused significant damage to public infrastructure and private property.
“Scrap dealers have shown a brazen lack of restraint, causing widespread havoc to critical public infrastructure and private property. This law restores sanity to our property market and prioritises overall public safety,” the Speaker said.
Other Legislative Business
The Assembly also considered and adopted the Auditor-General’s Report on the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Ebonyi State Government for the financial year ended December 31, 2025.
The lawmakers said the report was in line with applicable accounting principles.
The Assembly further screened and confirmed nine nominees appointed by Governor Francis Nwifuru to serve as coordinator and members of the Management Committee of the Amasiri Development Centre in Afikpo Local Government Area.
The appointments followed the state government’s reinstatement of the development centre.
