BREAKING ‼️ Ebonyi Assembly Caps Estate Agent Fees at 2%, Moves to Regulate Scrap Trade and House Rents

The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has passed a landmark bill seeking to regulate scrap trading, house rents and estate agency fees across the state, in a move aimed at curbing vandalism, exploitation and arbitrary charges in the property sector.

The legislation, titled “The Ebonyi State Sale of Scraps, House Rent and Agent Fees Regulation Law, 2026,” was passed during Wednesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Moses Odunwa.

The law will become effective following assent by Governor Francis Nwifuru.

Estate Agents’ Fees Capped at 2%

One of the major provisions of the legislation is the restriction of estate agency fees to two per cent of the gross value of a property transaction.

The measure is expected to address complaints over excessive charges by estate agents and middlemen, while promoting greater transparency in property transactions.

The law also mandates estate agents operating within the state capital to register with the Ministry of Capital City, a requirement intended to improve professionalism and accountability within the sector.

Landlords will equally be required to comply with standard rents prescribed by the governor for applicable categories of accommodation.

Tougher Measures Against Scrap Trading

The legislation introduces regulatory controls on the purchase, sale, possession for sale, transportation and disposal of metal and electrical scraps.

Under the new framework, such activities will be restricted to licensed dealers operating in accordance with regulations established by the law.

Anyone found violating the provisions could face up to two years imprisonment or a fine of ₦500,000.

The Assembly said the measure is particularly important in tackling the theft and vandalism of public infrastructure and critical assets, which often end up in scrap markets.

Fraudulent Housing Transactions Criminalised

The law also targets fraudulent practices in the housing sector.

It criminalises the acquisition or possession of accommodation through fraud, misrepresentation or concealment of material facts, with offenders liable to imprisonment for up to two years.

Presenting the bill, the House Leader, Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, said the legislation was necessary to address the growing challenges of vandalism, environmental degradation and exploitation within the housing sector.

> “This legislation is very important to us as a people because it will help check vandalism of critical assets, environmental degradation and exploitative practices in the housing sector,” Ikoro said.

During deliberations, lawmakers including Victor Nwoke, Aloysius Nwodo, Oluchukwu Ezeali, Friday Ogbuewu and Celestine Ogba described the bill as timely, particularly in addressing the theft of scrap materials and arbitrary increases in house rents.

Speaker Odunwa also expressed concern over the activities of some scrap dealers, saying their operations had contributed considerably to damage in society.

He expressed optimism that the legislation would help improve public safety and restore sanity to property transactions across Ebonyi State.

The bill was subsequently considered clause by clause by the Committee of the Whole, with corrections made to identified grammatical errors before it was unanimously passed by the lawmakers.

Assembly Approves 2025 Auditor-General’s Report

Meanwhile, the Assembly approved the report of the State Auditor-General on the consolidated financial statements of the Ebonyi State Government for the financial year ended December 31, 2025.

According to the report, the state's financial statements were prepared in conformity with accepted accounting principles.

Nine Amasiri Development Centre Nominees Confirmed

In another development, the lawmakers screened and confirmed nine nominees forwarded by Governor Nwifuru as coordinators and members of the management committee of the Amasiri Development Centre in Afikpo Local Government Area.

The confirmation followed the state government's reinstatement of the development centre after it had previously been disbanded and delisted.

The latest legislative actions underscore the Assembly's efforts to strengthen regulation in the housing and scrap sectors while improving accountability in the management of public resources and community development structures across Ebonyi State.

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