Abuja — Investors from Australia have expressed interest in the nation's mining sector.Disclosing this during a visit to the Minister of Mines and Steel Development in Abuja, the technical director of Perth Western Australia, Mr. Geoff G. Jones, said that the purpose of their visit was to indicate their intention to invest in Nigeria's mining sector.

According to him, their request is that government should appoint a senior government officer that would facilitate their mining operations in community development and workers issues.He also said the appointed officer will assist them in the Ministries of Mines and Steel Development, Water Resources and other government agencies in policy and investment issues in Nigeria.

Jones disclosed that they have the recipe for mineral development, adding that new grounds will be broken in all developing countries of the world as they are seeking assistance to do this in Nigeria.Responding, the minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, said that the intention of the Australian investors to invest in Nigeria's mining sector was an interesting development.

She assured them that the Nigerian government would do everything necessary to facilitate the operations of investors in the sector for the benefit of the investors and Nigerians, adding that the ministry was putting together a framework for the development of the sector.

The minister disclosed that efforts are being made by the federal government to create a one-stop shop for effective and efficient coordination of mining operations in the country.She said an inter-ministerial stakeholders committee for the sector would be inaugurated before the end of the year to address the needs of investors and the development of the sector.

Madueke commended the Australian investors for being one of the first investors in the world to have developed a template for the exploration and exploitation of Gold and community relations, adding that Nigeria was ready to learn from their experience.