The Senate on yesterday rejected a bill that sought to phase out the use of petrol cars and introduce electric cars in Nigeria by the year 2035.
Senators also rejected another bill that sought to open up the Nigerian citizenship to other Africans.
The two bills were sponsored separately by Sen Ben Murray-Bruce (PDP, Bayelsa).
The senator told his colleagues that combustion cars were causing pollution and contribute to global warming and that developed countries were gradually phasing them out.
However, Sen Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano), said there was no need to make any law compelling Nigerians to use electric cars at a particular period.
He said in view of the economic strength of individual Nigerians, it would be unwise to come up with such legislation.
Also, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, while kicking against the bill, said it would affect Nigeria’s economy as an oil producing country.
In the end, Murray-Bruce was advised to withdraw the bill, which he did.
On the bill to open up Nigerian citizenship, Sen Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi) said Sections 25, 26 and 27 of the constitution adequately took care of that. Consequently, Senate President Bukola Saraki put it to a voice vote, and a majority of the senators voted against it.
