The Ebonyi State Government has approved plans to introduce a law that would limit the fees charged by estate agents to 2% of a tenant’s total rent, as part of efforts to protect residents from what it describes as exploitative practices in the housing sector.
The decision was reached during the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held at the Government House in Abakaliki. The proposed bill will now be forwarded to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly for legislative consideration.
Addressing journalists after the meeting on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Chief Ikeuwah Omebeh, said the proposed legislation is aimed at bringing greater transparency and professionalism to the state’s housing market.
“If passed into law, estate agents will not be allowed to charge more than two per cent of the total rent paid by tenants. Only duly registered and qualified practitioners will also be permitted to operate,” he said.
Mr Omebeh explained that the government believes the measure will protect tenants from excessive agency fees while improving standards within the real estate sector.
The Executive Council also approved a separate bill to regulate the purchase, sale, transportation, possession and disposal of metal and electrical scrap across the state.
According to the commissioner, the proposed law is intended to curb vandalism of public infrastructure, strengthen public safety and improve environmental protection through stricter oversight of scrap metal activities.
Beyond the proposed legislation, the council approved the establishment of Herbal Heritage Gardens in Ebonyi’s three senatorial districts. The initiative, to be implemented by the Ministries of Culture and Tourism, Health, and Agriculture, aims to promote research, preserve indigenous herbal medicine and develop standards for its use.
Mr Omebeh said the government would begin consultations with stakeholders immediately and work with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and research institutions to develop an appropriate regulatory framework. He added that a supplementary bill would be submitted within 90 days to provide legal backing for the standardisation of herbal medicine and its integration into primary healthcare services.
On infrastructure, the commissioner said the state had directed the Attorney-General to begin legal proceedings to terminate all abandoned two-kilometre road contracts. Committees have also been established across all local government areas to ensure the projects are completed before September 2026.
In addition, the council approved plans for the design, construction and operation of a 6,000-tonnes-per-day cement plant at the Nkalagu Cement Industry in partnership with Jiangsu Pengfei Group Ltd.
The Ebonyi State Government said the project forms part of its broader strategy to revive industrial production, attract investment and support long-term economic growth.
