Abuja — Minister of Mines and Steel Development Mrs Diezani Alison - Madueke has said the Federal Government was prepared to partner Chinese firms that have shown interest in the development of Nigeria mining sector especially gold.

She said the present administration is working aggressively to partner with interested and aggressive investors both locally and internationally to grow the mining sector in Nigeria.

Madueke said this at a meeting with a delegation of both Nigeria and Chinese investors led by the Managing Director of ENL Consortium Limited Prince Clement Haastrup and General Manager Xian Yuanfar International Trade Company Larry Whang.

The minister said the Federal Government has put in place regulatory parameters with the enactment of the Minerals and Mining Act of 2007 to revive and revitalize the mining sector. She added that the Mining regulations aspect would soon be concluded to facilitate its full implementation.

While commending the interest shown by Chinese investors at developing Gold, she said findings from a number of junior operators who are already working on the exploration of gold show that there are commercial quantities of gold in excess of what they had originally expected in Nigeria.

She said: "The quality of gold in Nigeria is one of the best in the World", stressing that it will be beneficial to both interested investors and Nigeria by investing in gold.