World Bulletin / News Desk

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has written to the parliament requesting a six-month extension of the emergency rule in the Northeastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, where the Boko Haram insurgency is most potent.

The president's request, made in a letter dated November 5, was read by Senate President David Mark at a plenary session on Wednesday.

The Nigerian constitution requires the president to get the approval of the upper chamber of parliament before a state of emergency – or its extension, as in this case - could be validly imposed in any part of the country.

No date has been scheduled to debate the president’s request, though a decision is expected soon.