Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has said he hopes that all territory seized by Islamist militant group Boko Haram will be retaken within a month.
"They are getting weaker and weaker by the day," he told the BBC.
But the president - who faces elections in a week - admitted the response to the insurgents' initial advance in north-east Nigeria had been too slow.
The army has claimed recent victories over Boko Haram in a conflict that has killed thousands since 2012.
Its gains have coincided with a broadening campaign against the militants, involving the militaries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
President Jonathan's government has been heavily criticised for its failure to tackle the violence. It has made several claims to be turning the tide against Boko Haram - but these have not been borne out by events.
The president postponed February's election by six weeks, saying the armed forces needed more time to secure the country.
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