Ebonyi House of Assembly has passed into law a bill regulating scrap trade, house rents and estate agent fees to curb exploitation and vandalism.
The legislation, passed during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mr Moses Odunwa, is titled ”The Ebonyi State Sale of Scraps, House Rent and Agent Fees Regulation Law, 2026”.
The law, deemed to commence immediately if assented to by Gov. Francis Nwifuru, sought to regulate the sale, possession, transportation and disposal of metal and electrical scraps, standardise house rents and curb excessive agent fees.
It prohibits the purchase, sale, possession for sale, transportation or disposal of metal or electrical scraps except by licensed dealers operating in accordance with regulations made under the law.
The legislation proposes imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine of up to N500,000 to offenders.
