By Olasunkomi Akoni & Gbenga Akanmu
LAGOS— Lagos State House of Assembly has confirmed the appointment of Mr. Taofik Tijani as Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, a new ministry created by Governor Babatunde Fashola to cater for the power needs of the state.

The confirmation of Tijani followed a letter to the House by the governor, asking it to confirm the appointment. He was earlier appointed Special Adviser to the Governor on Mineral Resources.

Fashola, in the letter, said the Office of Special Adviser, Mineral Resources had been upgraded to a full ministry to be known as Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and that he wished to elevate Tijani, who was sworn into that office, to the status of a commissioner.

Fashola said: “These changes are necessary to better serve our people in terms of provision of public infrastructure and respond to our energy and power needs and position  the state to play a more active role in the oil and gas sector.”

After deliberating on the latter, the lawmakers ratified the upgrading of the ministry and the appointment of the commissioner.

In another development, the House has called on the Federal Government to evacuate shipwreck along the coastal areas in Eti-Osa area of the state and release money from the ecological fund to assist the areas affected by the ocean surge.

The House also called on the state Ministries of the Environment, and Waterfront Infrastructure to come to the aid of the communities affected by the Ocean surge.

The lawmakers, urged the Ministries to assist the affected areas by constructing drainages, while also commiserating with the families, who lost their property during the surge.