Nigeria's President Jonathan hopes areas held by Boko Haram will be retaken 'within a month'

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he hoped that the territories held by Islamist militant group Boko Haram will be retaken within a month as they are getting "weaker and weaker" by the day.

However, Jonathan, who is due to face election in a week, admitted that the response to the militants' initial advance in north-east Nigeria had been too slow, reported the BBC.

Backed by neighbouring countries Chad, Niger and Cameroon, Nigeria's army has retaken many towns and villages previously held by militants.

President Jonathan's government has been criticized in the past for its failure to tackle insurgency.