Ebonyi to Ban House, Land Agents from 2026 Over Exploitation
By Inemesit Friday
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has announced that house and land agents will be outlawed across the state beginning from 2026, in a decisive move to check rising rents and protect residents from exploitation.
The governor, who disclosed this while addressing stakeholders in Abakaliki, said the activities of property agents have become a source of hardship for citizens, accusing them of collecting outrageous fees on properties that do not belong to them.
According to him, in some cases, desperate residents have been forced to pay as much as ₦500,000 to secure accommodation, only to discover later that the houses were either non-existent, already rented out, or embroiled in ownership disputes.
“From next year, no agent will be allowed to collect money from anyone seeking accommodation in Ebonyi State,” Governor Nwifuru declared.
The activities of agents have long been a source of public outcry in Ebonyi, where many tenants lament being compelled to pay multiple fees, ranging from agency charges, inspection fees, and caution deposits, in addition to regular rent. For low-income earners this often means taking loans or selling belongings just to secure a roof over their heads. Families have also been thrown into homelessness after being duped by fake agents who vanish after collecting deposits.
In some rural communities, land speculators working with dishonest agents have sold the same plot of land to multiple buyers, sparking violent clashes and prolonged litigation.
Many residents see the proposed ban as a welcome relief. Tenants in Abakaliki say the governor’s directive could ease the financial burden of house-hunting, especially for students, civil servants, and young families who have been the worst hit by exploitative charges. Landlords, on their part, argue that while genuine agents help in connecting tenants to properties, the excesses of fraudulent middlemen have stained the system. Some have urged government to create an official housing desk or digital registry to replace agents and ensure transparency in transactions.
Governor Nwifuru assured that his administration will roll out alternative frameworks to connect landlords and prospective tenants directly, thereby eliminating the need for middlemen. He insisted that Ebonyi cannot continue to allow its citizens to be defrauded under the guise of property agency.
The move has already sparked debate across the state, with legal experts noting that the government must back the directive with enforceable legislation to avoid legal loopholes.
If fully implemented, the policy could reshape Ebonyi’s housing market and bring relief to thousands of residents who for years have suffered untold misery at the hands of property agents.
