Nigeria, April 17 -- Nigerian senators on Wednesday rejected a bill aiming to phase out petrol vehicles and introduce electric cars in the country in 2035.

The bill, first read on April 10, was not considered for a second reading by the lawmakers.

In his lead debate, sponsor of the bill, Ben Murray-Bruce, said the move would serve two major purposes.

"Combustion engine cars have continued to cause deaths through uncontrolled pollution," said Mr Murray-Bruce (PDP, Bayelsa East).

"Secondly, we have been spending over N1 trillion annually subsidising fuel in this country.

"By introducing electric cars, fuel subsidy will automatically be gone and those funds will be used for infrastructure and education," he argued.

Mr Murray-Bruce told...