The Ebonyi State Government has approved plans to send a bill to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly aimed at regulating house rents and estate agent fees across the state, particularly in Abakaliki, where residents have complained about rising rental costs.
The decision was announced by the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Barrister Ikeuwa Omebeh, while briefing journalists on the resolutions reached during the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held in Abakaliki.
According to Omebeh, the proposed legislation is part of the government’s broader strategy to tackle excessive house rents, regulate estate agents, and control the sale of metal and electrical scraps in Ebonyi State.
He explained that the Executive Council had approved the transmission of the bill to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly for legislative consideration.
If passed into law, the bill will prohibit registered and unregistered agents from charging more than 2 percent of the total rent as agency fees. The government said the measure is intended to protect tenants from exploitative charges and ease the financial burden associated with securing accommodation in the state.
In a related development, the council also approved another executive bill seeking to regulate the sale, purchase, transportation, possession, and disposal of metal and electrical scraps across Ebonyi State.
The proposed law is expected to curb infrastructure vandalism, improve public safety, protect the environment, and establish clear guidelines for the scrap metal business.
The Executive Council also approved the establishment of the Ebonyi State Herbal Heritage Garden, with one garden to be developed in each of the state’s three senatorial districts.
The initiative will be implemented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Agriculture and Natural Resources. The government said the project is designed to preserve medicinal plants, promote traditional healthcare knowledge, and boost tourism.
On infrastructure, the council directed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ben Uruchi, to conclude all legal processes required for terminating abandoned 2-kilometre road contracts before the close of business on July 22, 2026.
The Commissioner for Special Projects, Dr. Ngozi Obichukwu, was also instructed to immediately compile a comprehensive inventory of all unfinished 2km road projects across the state to facilitate further government action.
Providing an update on the state’s recent investment mission to China, Omebeh revealed that the visit produced agreements focused on modernising secondary education through digital technology and introducing smart education systems in Ebonyi schools.
He added that plans are underway to establish a technology manufacturing company at the ICT University, Oferekpe, where digital cameras and other electronic devices will be produced, a move expected to strengthen technology development, create jobs, and support the state’s digital economy.
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