Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday expressed optimism that the deadline given to service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari to end the Boko Haram insurgency is achievable.

“I know that that is entirely possible. I know that they can do it. We have a great military and we know that there have been problems with the grading of the lack of equipment and lack of resources but that is a problem we to deal with as we go along,” he said.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria commended the Chief of Defence Staff for the quick action taken by the security agencies after receiving the President’s order.

He said: “The Chief of Defence Staff has already responded appropriately, by saying that is a task that has been set for the military and they must go out there and execute it within the time that has been given.

“As it is, we have to fix the car while the engine is running, you can’t say we are going to wait until we get all the equipment before we do it.

“So we have to fix this car while the engine is running and that is what we are doing now.”

President Buhari gave the charge on Thursday, August 13, after decorating the new Service Chiefs, whose appointments were announced two months ago.

He lamented the upsurge in the wave of the terror attacks in the north east, challenging the service chiefs not to fail Nigerians.

The President charged them to be accountable for all men and equipment under their command, with the welfare of the troops uppermost in their minds.

The President also pledged to give them the needed support, while charging them to protect innocent civilians as well as respect the rights of combatants to earn the support of Nigerians and the international community.

•Adapted from a Channels TV report. Photo shows Vee Pee Osinbajo.