Nigeria's foreign minister says he is optimistic that the government will soon end the conflict with Islamist militant group Boko Haram and bring back the 200 kidnapped schoolgirls.
Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Aminu Wali said that Nigerian authorities were working towards securing the safe release of the kidnapped schoolgirls.
Wali said there was a tremendous amount of improvement in terms of the discussions that are going on now and also the possibility of having total cessation of hostilities and at the same time bringing back the girls and also normalcy in that part of northern Nigeria, News 24 reports.
Nigeria announced on Friday that it had brokered a ceasefire deal with Boko Haram.
The group has been accused of inflicting violence since 2009 killing almost 2,000 civilians this year.
Boko Haram sparked fury worldwide six months ago after they abducted more than 200 schoolgirls.
The girls were captured in the north-eastern town of Chibok in Borno state which led to criticism of the Nigerian government's efforts in rescuing the girls.
