A hotel owned by the government of the northern Nigerian state of Kano has banned Christian activities on its premises, the 'Vanguard' newspaper reported on Wednesday. The move came about a week after Islamic fundamentalists burnt hotels and restaurants in Kano for selling alcoholic beverages.

'Vanguard quoted the hotel's chief executive as telling reporters that the move was meant to protect the hotel's property. "The hotel is not designed for church services or activities but was meant for ceremonies like seminars, marriages, receptions, lectures and so on," Vanguard reported him as saying.

He, however, denied reports that the decision was motivated by threats from some Muslim groups opposed to the use of the hotel by Christians, pointing out that "even if the chief imam moves his worship to this place, we shall deny him the use of our facilities for religious activities".

The president of Christ Evangelical Life Assembly, Rev. Joseph Chukwuma, described the hotel's action as "part of the discrimination against the Christians by the government and people of the state."