In a move aimed at bringing order to key sectors, the Ebonyi State Executive Council has approved several new bills that could change how residents engage with housing, business, and public safety.

One of the major proposals targets the housing market. Under the new law, estate agents will be restricted from charging more than 2% of the total rent as their fee. This is expected to curb excessive agent charges and ease the financial burden on tenants across the state.

The government also turned its attention to the scrap metal trade. New legislation will regulate the sale and handling of metal and electrical scraps. The goal is to address growing concerns over vandalism of public infrastructure and to improve environmental safety standards in the sector.

In another development, the state approved the establishment of herbal heritage gardens. These gardens will support research and standardisation of indigenous medicine. A proper regulatory and intellectual property framework will accompany the initiative, giving traditional medicine a more structured and officially recognised platform.

On infrastructure, the government announced plans to terminate uncompleted two-kilometre road projects. An inventory process is already underway to assess the situation and determine the next steps.

Lastly, Ebonyi State has entered into a partnership with Jiangsu Pengfei Group Ltd. The deal will see the development of a 6,000-tonnes-per-day cement plant in Nkalagu. The project is expected to boost industrial activity and create new economic opportunities for the state.