The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has passed a law to regulate scrap trading, house rents, and estate agent fees, aiming to prevent exploitation and vandalism. The legislation, titled “The Ebonyi State Sale of Scraps, House Rent and Agent Fees Regulation Law, 2026,” was passed at Wednesday’s plenary session presided over by Speaker Moses Odunwa. It will become law once Governor Francis Nwifuru gives his assent.
Key Provisions of the New Law
The law regulates the sale, possession, transportation, and disposal of metal and electrical scraps. It prohibits these activities unless carried out by licensed dealers operating under regulations made under the law. Offenders face imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to ₦500,000.
The legislation also addresses housing issues. Landlords who obtain possession of accommodation through fraud, misrepresentation, or concealment of material facts commit an offence punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment. Agent fees are capped at no more than two per cent of the gross amount of a property transaction.
Rent Standardisation and Agent Registration
From the commencement of the law, landlords must comply with standard rents prescribed by the governor for applicable categories of accommodation. All estate agents operating in the state capital are required to register with the Ministry of Capital City to promote transparency and professionalism in property transactions.
Presenting the bill, House Leader Kingsley Ikoro said the legislation was designed to check vandalism, environmental degradation, and exploitative practices in 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,” Mr Ikoro said.
Lawmakers Support and Passage
Contributing to the debate, Victor Nwoke, Aloysius Nwodo, Oluchukwu Ezeali, Friday Ogbuewu, and Celestine Ogba described the legislation as timely and necessary to address scrap theft and arbitrary rent increases. The speaker noted that scrap dealers had caused considerable havoc in society, adding that if assented to, the legislation would promote public safety and restore sanity to property transactions.
The bill was considered clause by clause by the Committee of the Whole, with members correcting identified grammatical errors before unanimously passing it into law.
Other Assembly Actions
The House also approved the state Auditor-General’s report on the consolidated financial statements of the Ebonyi State Government for the year ending 31 December 2025, which stated that it conformed with accepted accounting principles. Additionally, lawmakers screened and confirmed nine nominees of the governor as coordinators and members of the management committee of the Amasiri Development Centre in the Afikpo Local Government Area. The screening took place after the development centre was reinstated, following its disbandment and delisting by the Ebonyi State Government.
