Ebonyi Assembly Passes Tough New Law on Rent and Scrap Dealers

(Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Moses Odunwa. Photo by News Express)

The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has enacted landmark legislation regulating the scrap metal trade, standardising residential rental rates and restricting property agency commission charges throughout the state.

The law, formally designated the Ebonyi State Sale of Scraps, House Rent, and Agent Fees Regulation Law 2026, received passage during Tuesday's legislative session presided over by Speaker Moses Odunwa and became operative immediately upon enactment on August 11, 2026.

The statute establishes comprehensive regulatory mechanisms designed to curtail public infrastructure vandalism, arrest environmental deterioration and eliminate predatory conduct within the state's property market.

Provisions stipulate that unauthorised acquisition, retail transactions, retention, transit or disposition of metal and electrical scrap materials constitute criminal offences punishable by imprisonment not exceeding two years, monetary penalties reaching N500,000 or both.

Housing rent provisions mandate adherence to standardised tariff schedules established by Governor Francis Nwifuru, with landlords statutorily prohibited from charging rates surpassing prescribed ceilings.

Proprietors engaging fraudulent possession order acquisition through deception or information withholding face identical penalties.

Real estate transaction commission structures have been capped at two percent of aggregate transaction valuation for both licensed and unlicensed agents, whilst property professionals operating within the capital city must complete ministerial registration procedures.

House Leader Kingsley Ikoro advocated swift legislative passage, characterising the measure as instrumental in protecting public assets and safeguarding economically vulnerable residential occupants.

Multiple lawmakers, including representatives from various constituencies, endorsed the legislation as timely intervention addressing escalating scrap theft and speculative rent impositions.

Speaker Odunwa remarked that scrap dealers had demonstrably disregarded restraint, necessitating legislative action restoring infrastructure integrity and public safety.

In supplementary business, the Assembly formally adopted the Auditor-General's Financial Report for the preceding fiscal year, confirming alignment with established accounting standards.

Nine gubernatorial nominees received screening and confirmation for positions within the Amasiri Development Centre leadership structure.