In focus: New Nigeria's president 'must tackle army's indiscipline and corruption' to end Boko Haram

The upcoming Nigerian presidential election, to be held on 14 February, could reshape the political landscape of the country should Muhammad Buhari be elected. He is the main rival of incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan, who is re-running.

We spoke with Paul Adams, a consultant for the Africa Research Institute in London, on the current political situation in Nigeria and what strategies the government should adopt to defeat terror group Boko Haram, whose insurgency in northern Nigeria has led to the death and displacement of thousands.

Jonathan has been accused by many of doing very little to halt Boko Haram.

People who live in northern Nigeria particularly dislike the current president as they feel marginalised and ignored by the government and argue that politicians should do more to protect civilians from widespread terror attacks.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Nigerian soldiers refuse to be deployed to rebel-held areas arguing that they are not adequately equipped and are not paid on time.

According to Adams, however, one of the main reasons for the current government's incapability to defeat the terrorists is the lack of discipline within the army, also accused of committing atrocities.

At the beginning of January, Boko Haram slaughtered at least 2,000 people, including women and children, in Borno state.

The mass-killing, described as "possibly the deadliest" the terrorists have committed, was carried out as the group raided 16 towns in Borno.

Adams warned that attacks will continue and will expand to neighbouring countries - as has already happened several times in Cameroon - unless the government provides the army with better training and intelligence and intensifies the fight against corruption, a big obstacle to peace in Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil producer.