President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the National Assembly to extend the emergency rule in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, by another six months.
The three north-east states have been worst hit by violence perpetrated by Boko Haram.
Thousands of people have been killed and many more injured by the sect since it began its uprising in 2009.
The emergency rule declared by President Jonathan in May was to be the government’s toughest response yet to the crisis.
In letters to the Senate and the House of Representatives, Mr Jonathan said the decision has yielded results, and that the military have made good gains. He said the situation had not fully normalised and called for an extension.
He asked the lawmakers to approve a new phase of the emergency to start from November 12.
Under the constitution, the first declaration terminates six months after except extended.
