The Ebonyi State Executive Council has approved the transmission of bills to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly seeking to regulate house rents, estate agents’ fees, and the sale of metal and electrical scraps across the state.
The State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Chief Ikeuwah Omebeh, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the council meeting held at the Government House, Centenary City, Abakaliki.
Omebeh said the proposed landlord-tenant law would curb arbitrary charges by estate agents by limiting their fees to a maximum of two per cent of the total rent paid by tenants.
He explained that the measure was designed to protect residents from excessive charges while ensuring that only qualified and duly registered agents operate within the state.
The commissioner said the second bill would regulate the buying, selling, possession, transportation, and disposal of metal and electrical scraps.
According to him, the legislation is intended to curb vandalism, safeguard the environment, and enhance public safety.
He noted that the proposed laws followed the state government’s earlier resolve to address growing concerns over rising house rents, estate agents’ fees, and the activities of scrap dealers.
“EXCO approved the transmission of the bill to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly for proper legislation,” Omebeh said.
The commissioner also announced that the council had approved the establishment of state-owned Herbal Heritage Gardens in the three senatorial zones of Ebonyi.
He said the project, to be implemented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Agriculture and Natural Resources, would promote research, preservation, and the standardisation of indigenous medicinal practices.
According to Omebeh, stakeholders’ engagement, site identification, and the development of a regulatory framework will commence immediately, with the involvement of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and relevant research institutions.
He added that a supplementary memorandum on legislation covering standardisation, intellectual property protection, and the integration of herbal medicine into primary healthcare centres would be submitted within 90 days.
The EXCO also directed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to begin the process of terminating all uncompleted 2km road projects across the state.
Omebeh said the decision followed a review of the projects’ progress, adding that special EXCO committees had been constituted for each local government area to ensure their completion before September 2026.
He said the Commissioner for Special Projects, Dr Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu, had also been directed to immediately compile an inventory of all uncompleted 2km road projects to facilitate the required action.
In addition, the commissioner disclosed that EXCO approved the proposed design, construction, and operation of a 6,000-tonnes-per-day (TPD) cement plant at the Nkalagu Cement Industry in partnership with Jiangsu Pengfei Group Ltd.
He said the project forms part of the state government’s efforts to revive industrial activities, attract investment, and stimulate economic growth in Ebonyi State.
