The Ebonyi State House of Assembly (EBHA), has passed a bill seeking a law to regulate the sale of metal and electrical scraps, increasing cost of house rent and collection of agency fees and other matters by professionals and non-professionals in the sector.
Presenting the merit of the bill, the Leader of the House, Mr Kingsley, appealed to his colleagues to support its speedy passage.
He said the law was designed to checkmate vandalism of public and private property in Ebonyi State, adding that it will also tackle environmental degradation and exploitative practices in the housing sector.
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The bill was passed into law at a plenary which was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Mr Moses Odunwa.
The new law which came into effect on 11 August, 2026 will be cited as Ebonyi State Sale of Scraps, House Rent and Agent Fees Regulation Law 2026.
The purpose of the law was to regulate the sale, possession, transportation and disposal of metal scraps and electrical scraps, standardise house rents and curb excessive agent fees by professionals and non-professionals in the state.
It prohibits buying, selling, possessing for sale, transport or disposal of metal and electrical scraps, except as a dealer who was licenced in accordance with the stipulations of the new law.
The law further stipulates that offenders shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine not more than five hundred thousand naira.
Under the new law, any landlord who obtains an order for possession of any accommodation through fraudulent misrepresentation or concealment of any material fact shall be guilty of an offence and liable to two years imprisonment, while the agents’ fees shall not be more than two percent of gross sum of such transaction.
Under the law, the standard rent prescribed by the Governor for the purpose of this law shall be payable in respect of the type of accommodation to which it applies and it is an unlawful act for a landlord to accept excess of standard rent prescribed.
The new law further stipulates that to ensure transparency, accountability and professionalism in property transactions, all estate agents operating within the capital city shall be registered with the Ministry of Capital City.
In their separate contributions, Mr Victor Nwoke, who represents Abakaliki North State Constituency, Mr Aloysius Nwodo who represents Ebonyi North West Constituency, Mr Oluchukwu Ezeali who represents Afikpo East, Mr Friday Ogbuewu, who represents Ezza South, and Mr Celestine Ogba representing Onicha East Constituency, described the law as timely and necessary, pointing out that it will curb the rising menace of scraps theft and arbitrary increase in house rents, in the area.
After the passage of the law, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Moses Odunwa noted that the activities of scraps dealers have caused havoc in the state.
The Speaker said, “these scraps dealers have no conscience. This new law will promote public safety and restore sanity to property transactions in the state.”
The House also considered and adopted the state’s Auditor General’s report on the Consolidated Financial Statement for the year ended 31 December, 2025, which was adjudged to be in tandem with accepted accounting principles.
The House also screened and confirmed nine nominees for the position of Coordinator and Members of Management Committee for Amasiri Development Centre in Afikpo Local Government Area of the state.
The nominations came in the aftermath of the reinstatement of Amasiri Development Centre which was disbanded and delisted as Development Centre in Ebonyi.
The Coordinator of Amasiri Development Centre, Mr Baron Ogbonna, who spoke on behalf of the nominees, thanked Governor Francis Nwifuru for the confidence reposed in them, and pledged to ensure peace and development in the area.
