Nigeria's Buhari tries new strategy in Boko Haram war
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has hit the ground running after assuming office, meeting his military chiefs and the leaders of neighbouring Niger and Chad, countries which have been helping in the fight against Boko Haram.
In his inaugural speech Mr Buhari expressed his resolve to tackle the militant Islamist group. He announced the relocation of the military command and control centre from the capital Abuja, 800km (500 miles) to Maiduguri, the main city at the heart of the insurgency, until the conflict is resolved.
The aim is to centralise operations close to the action, cut the bureaucracy and speed up decision-making.
The policy and administrative arms of the military have been accused of being detached from the reality of soldiers on the frontline.
Complaints from troops about inadequate supplies of equipment and poor welfare have often been denied, downplayed or ignored by the authorities. On occasion, disgruntled soldiers refused to fight, and one group of soldiers was convicted after shooting at their own commanding officer.
However the new strategy has not gone down well with some top military men, who view it as a symbolic, populist move by President Buhari, attempting to set himself apart from the previous administration under Goodluck Jonathan.
There are also concerns it could further complicate existing operations on the ground. Maiduguri is already home to the 7th Infantry Division, set up in 2013 specifically to fight Boko Haram.
Its 8,500 troops have fought in a conflict that has morphed from urban-based warfare in Maiduguri, to a territorial struggle across the outlying towns and villages of the expansive region.
We don't yet know how this new strategy will change the way the army tackles Boko Haram on the front line.