By Joe Udo
ABAKALIKI (CONVERSEER) – The Ebonyi State Government has proposed a new executive bill aimed at regulating landlord-tenant relations, rent levels, and fees charged by house agents, following rising housing costs across the state.
The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, disclosed this to journalists in Abakaliki after the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Ogbonnaya Nwifuru.
Omebeh said the proposed legislation would make it illegal for any housing agent to charge more than two per cent of the total rent payable on any property in the state once the law comes into force.
He explained that the measure is part of efforts by the government to address arbitrary and excessive charges by agents, which have contributed to the steady rise in house and shop rents, particularly in urban areas.
“Following the state government’s earlier resolve to tame the activities of house agents, which have invariably led to exorbitant house rents, particularly in the state capital, EXCO proposes an Executive Council Bill to regulate landlord and tenant rents and fees charged by house agents in the state,” Omebeh said.
“With this law, it will be illegal for any agent to collect a fee exceeding two per cent of the required rent across the state. This is to ensure that all qualified and registered agents act within the law to cushion the hardship that arbitrary agent charges have meted out on citizens.”
The commissioner noted that the proposed bill is expected to introduce a framework for transparency and accountability in the property market, while protecting tenants from exploitative practices.
In a related development, the Executive Council approved the immediate termination of several poorly executed and abandoned 2-kilometre road projects across communities in the state.
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Omebeh said the decision followed earlier observations that many contractors either failed to complete the projects after receiving payments or delivered substandard work.
“Following EXCO’s earlier observation that most contractors handling the construction of the 2km roads had either abandoned the site after receiving payments or executed very poor jobs, EXCO approved the immediate termination of all 2km roads not yet completed,” he said.
He recalled that during its February 3, 2026 meeting, the council had expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work and directed supervisory committees to inspect project sites and recommend appropriate actions.
According to him, the committees were also mandated to review all payment certificates and certify them before further payments are made, as part of efforts to ensure accountability and value for public funds.
