A bill that sought to phase out the use of petrol cars and introduce electric cars in Nigeria by the year 2035 was rejected by the Senate on Wednesday.
Senators also rejected another bill that sought to open up the Nigerian citizenship to other Africans.
Sen Ben Murray-Bruce (PDP, Bayelsa) separately sponsored the two bills and went ahead to inform his colleagues that combustion cars were causing pollution and contributes to global warming resulting into the gradual elimination of them by developed countries.
However, Sen Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano), said in view of the economic strength of individual Nigerians, it would be unwise to come up with such legislation as to compel Nigerians to use electric cars at a particular period.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, also stated the fact that the bill would affect Nigeria’s economy as an oil producing country.
In the end, Murray-Bruce was advised to withdraw the bill, which he did and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, put it to a voice vote, and a majority of the senators voted against it.
Sen. Ben have acted very proactive and futuristic by proposing such an inportant bill before the Senate but understandable it has been rejected………………… We should stop seeing our nation as a Third World country but rather we should be committed to solving not only our today’s problems but we should also make adequate plans for the future…….. Make plans for year 2035 now should have been a wise step to take .