Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan has denied allegation of extrajudicial killing of innocent citizens by security operatives in the process of hunting down terrorists in the country.
The President denied the allegation in an interview on Wednesday night on CNN, anchored by Christiane Amanpour, a renowned journalist.
Jonathan said that the negative reports about Nigeria that were available to the American government were based on misinformation by certain NGOs and some other groups.
He said that the U.S. should use its own means of gathering information to know the truth.
The President also said that the "Boko Haram" sect is a major security issue in Nigeria.
On the crisis in Mali, the President said the Federal Government decided to send troops to the country to check the spread of terrorist incursion in the West Africa sub-region and beyond.
"Today, they are in Northern Mali but we don't know which country is next," he said.
Jonathan also said that the situation in the power sector had improved significantly, and gave the assurance that the challenge in the sector would be meet before the end of the year.
"This is one area that the government has made progress.
"Though we are not where we should be yet, the problem has been there for a long time and it will take some time before it is completely solved even if you have the money," he said.
The President solicited the support of the international community in tackling the challenge of crude oil theft, estimated at 400,000 barrel per year and amounting to about N7 billion.
"When you talk about crude oil stealing, I agree with you.
"Frankly speaking, we want the international community to support Nigeria because the stolen crude is being bought by refineries abroad and they know the crude oil is stolen.
"The world must condemn what is wrong. The stolen crude is refined abroad, it is not refined in Nigeria," he said.
Wrapping up the interview session, Amanpour confirmed that there had been significant progress in Nigeria with the efforts of Jonathan's administration.
"The election system has been cleaned up and he is right about that.
"International observers praised the 2011 general elections, calling them a big step forward for Africa’s most populous country," she said.
Amanpour, however, underscored the need for Nigeria to judiciously use her oil resources in a way that would touch the lives of the common people.
- NAN