The House of Representatives on Thursday approved the request of President Goodluck Jonathan for the extension of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states for another six months.

Jonathan requested for the extension in a letter to the House on May 13.

The approval followed a three-hour meeting with the service chiefs and heads of security on the current state of emergency in the three states.

Addressing a news conference, the chairman of the committee on media and public affairs, Zakari Mohammed, said the House voted unanimously for extension for the stability of the country.

Zakari said the service chiefs had also assured them that the extension would further consolidate the gains of the past one year period of the rule.

“We were given all the assurances by our service chiefs that they are on top of the situation,” he said.

Another lawmaker from Benue State, Ezekiel Adaji, said the House had no option than to approve the President’s request for the extension.

“I think we have no option, we must accept that this is a war and I think we are winning, so let them consolidate,” he said.

The Senate which also received briefing from the service chiefs will also need to cast their votes next Tuesday before the fate of the proposal for the extension is determined.