Ebonyi moves to cap estate agents’ fees, regulate house rent

Ebonyi moves to cap estate agents’ fees, regulate house rent

The Ebonyi State Government has unveiled a sweeping package of reforms aimed at making housing more affordable, strengthening public safety, reviving industrial production and accelerating infrastructure development across the state.

At its latest Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held at the Government House in Abakaliki, the council approved the transmission of executive bills to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly seeking to regulate house rent, cap estate agents’ fees, control the activities of scrap dealers, and provide a legal framework for other strategic development initiatives.

The decisions form part of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration’s broader agenda to improve the ease of doing business, protect residents from exploitation and attract new investments into the state.

One of the major highlights of the EXCO meeting is the proposed Landlord and Tenant Bill, which seeks to protect tenants from excessive charges often imposed during the process of renting residential and commercial properties.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Chief Ikeuwah Omebeh, said the proposed legislation would legally limit estate agents’ commissions to a maximum of two per cent of the total rent paid by tenants.

He explained that only registered and qualified estate practitioners would be permitted to operate in Ebonyi once the bill becomes law, a move expected to eliminate unlicensed agents and reduce exploitative practices in the state’s housing sector.

According to the commissioner, many residents have repeatedly complained about multiple charges—including agency, legal and agreement fees—that significantly increase the cost of renting accommodation.

“The Executive Council approved the transmission of the bill to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly for proper legislation,” Omebeh said.

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The government believes the proposed law will improve transparency in tenancy agreements, promote professionalism within the real estate sector and make housing more affordable for residents.

The Executive Council also approved another executive bill to regulate the purchase, sale, transportation, possession and disposal of metal and electrical scraps throughout Ebonyi State.

The proposed legislation is intended to tackle the growing problem of vandalism affecting electricity infrastructure, public facilities and government assets.

If passed into law, the bill will establish stricter monitoring mechanisms for scrap dealers, improve public safety and ensure that legitimate operators comply with established standards.

Government officials say tighter regulation of the scrap business will also support environmental protection and reduce the illegal trade in stolen public property.

As part of efforts to promote indigenous healthcare and medical research, EXCO approved the establishment of Herbal Heritage Gardens in the state’s three senatorial districts.

The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Agriculture and Natural Resources.

According to Omebeh, the initiative aims to preserve medicinal plants, encourage scientific research into traditional medicine and create opportunities for commercial production of certified herbal products.

The state government will immediately begin consultations with stakeholders, identify suitable sites and develop regulatory guidelines in partnership with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and relevant research institutions.

Within the next 90 days, a supplementary memorandum will be presented to provide legal backing for the standardisation of herbal medicine, protection of intellectual property rights and integration of traditional medicine into primary healthcare delivery.

The Executive Council also directed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to commence legal proceedings for the termination of all abandoned 2-kilometre road contracts across the state.

The decision followed an assessment of ongoing infrastructure projects, which identified several abandoned contracts delaying development in various communities.

To ensure timely completion of the affected roads, EXCO constituted monitoring committees in all 13 local government areas.

The committees have been mandated to ensure the projects are completed before September 2026.

The Commissioner for Special Projects, Dr Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu, has also been instructed to prepare a comprehensive inventory of all abandoned road projects for immediate government intervention.

In a significant boost to the state’s industrialisation drive, the Executive Council approved plans for the design, construction and operation of a 6,000-tonnes-per-day cement plant at the Nkalagu Cement Industry.

The project will be executed in partnership with Jiangsu Pengfei Group Ltd, an international engineering company with extensive experience in cement manufacturing plants.

The revival of the historic Nkalagu Cement Industry is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, attract fresh investments, increase internally generated revenue and position Ebonyi as one of Nigeria’s major cement-producing states.

The government described the project as a strategic investment that will stimulate economic growth, strengthen local manufacturing and support Nigeria’s expanding construction industry.

Officials said the latest decisions reflect the state government’s commitment to protecting consumers, improving infrastructure, strengthening public institutions and creating an enabling environment for investment.

The administration expressed confidence that the proposed reforms would improve the quality of life for residents, restore investor confidence and accelerate sustainable economic development across Ebonyi State once the bills receive legislative approval.

Ebonyi moves to cap estate agents’ fees, regulate house rent