President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said Friday in London that the Federal Government, the Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies were working very hard to ensure that Boko Haram does not capture more Nigerian territories.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investment Council (HIIC), President Jonathan assured the gathering that the Armed Forces and security agencies were making steady gains in recovering areas recently taken by Boko Haram.

His remarks, however, underscored the menace of the insurgents who have been seizing Nigerian towns and killing Nigerians. It has been so bad that for a short period that no Nigerian town fell to the insurgents the President had some relief. And he indicated that in his remarks in London.

“We are improving on security. For about a week now there have been no reports of Boko Haram seizing more territories. Rather, we are steadily pushing them back. The impression being created by sections of the media that the situation is worsening is not true. I can assure you that it will never get worse,” President Jonathan told the gathering.

The President also seized the opportunity of the occasion to call for greater support from the National Assembly for the Federal Government’s efforts to curb terrorism, insurgency and insecurity in the country.

He told members of the council headed by Baroness Lynda Chalker that he had offered himself as a candidate in Nigeria’s next presidential elections because he was convinced that with four more years in office, he will be able to further consolidate the positive national reforms initiated by his administration and take them to a point of irreversibility for the good of all Nigerians.

“As you already know, I have indicated my willingness to carry on for another four years if I am given the opportunity so that we can carry forward some of the reforms we have been talking about,” the President said.

•Adapted from Saturday Vanguard.

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