A bill seeking to repeal the Kogi State Rent Control and Recovery of Residential Premises Law 2007 has passed its first reading in the Kogi State House of Assembly. The proposed legislation aims to enact a more comprehensive State Tenancy Law that addresses modern challenges in property rental agreements.

The private member bill, sponsored by Hon. Lawal Akus, representing Ankpa 1 constituency, proposes significant updates to the 18-year-old law currently governing tenancy in the state.

According to Hon. Akus, the existing law has become outdated and limited in scope, focusing exclusively on residential premises while ignoring the realities of tenancy disputes in the state. He noted that courts have been overwhelmed with cases involving both residential and non-residential accommodations, highlighting a critical gap in the current legislation.

"The Kogi State Rent Control and Recovery of Residential Premises Law was enacted and assented to in 2007, over 18 years ago. A key limitation of the existing law lies in its exclusive focus on residential premises—a scope that does not reflect the realities of tenancy disputes in the State," Akus explained.

The lawmaker emphasized that the proposed Kogi State Tenancy Law 2025 would bring several improvements, including:

- Enhanced administrative efficiency
- Improved legal clarity for all parties
- Fairer representation on regulatory bodies
- Introduction of modern digital approaches to tenancy regulation
- Expanded scope to cover both residential and non-residential properties

"This inconsistency between the law's title and its practical application underscores the need for a more inclusive and accurate designation—hence the proposed re-christening as the Kogi State Tenancy Law, 2025," he added.

The bill is expected to benefit both landlords and tenants by reinforcing the state's role as an impartial regulator in tenancy matters, improving transparency, and embracing digital innovation for better service delivery.

If passed into law, the new legislation would represent the first major overhaul of Kogi's tenancy regulations in nearly two decades, potentially setting a new standard for property rental agreements in the state.