Senate rejects bills on electric cars, citizenship acquisition

By Tunde Opalana, Abuja

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously rejected two bills sponsored by Sen. Ben Murray- Bruce (Bayelsa East) 

The first bill seeks to phase out petrol cars on Nigerian roads by 2035 while the second one is to allow any interested person of African origin to acquire Nigerian citizenship for purposes of re-integration and development.

However, the debate on both bills generated controversies and drama, before they were eventually dropped.

On the use of electric cars, Sen. Murray-Bruce said the petrol-powered vehicles are being replaced with electric cars all over the world because the latter are easier and cheaper to maintain apart from being environmental friendly.

He argued that Nigeria was spending over a trillion naira on subsidy of fuel annually, just as filling stations would be replaced by solar energy that would automatically end the subsidy regime while the money saved would be channeled to infrastructure.

He also explained that he had driven an electric car successfully on Abuja roads, stressing that it was cheaper and easier to maintain.

Agreeing with Murray- Bruce, Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North) said that electric cars are environment friendly and could take away the many hazards associated with petrol and diesel engines.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, commended Murray-Bruce for the brilliant idea behind his bills and agreed with his submissions that the use of electric vehicles would help the country save more money apart from guaranteeing a clean environment.

Ekweremadu however, said that the nation did not require a legislation to change from the use of petrol vehicles to electric ones and appealed to the sponsor of the bills to voluntarily withdraw them which the senator did amidst laughter from his colleagues.

Murray-Bruce refused to withdraw the bill, but it was thrown out via voice votes.