A group of Seventh-day Adventist lawyers in Nigeria said last week that religious tensions are worsened when governments use their resources to promote either Christian or Muslim activities, reports P.M. News Service.

The Nigerian Association of Adventist Lawyers (NAALS) spoke in the wake of religious and ethnic riots in northern and central Nigeria last month in which hundreds of people were killed and houses of worship were destroyed. In the central city of Jos alone, more than 500 people lost their lives during the clashes.

State funding of Islamic or Christian pilgrimages stirs up religious discord in the county, said the statement, signed by NAALS president A. Adeoye, and vice president L.T.C. Eruba. The document also denounced the practice of lending national symbols and insignias to religious bodies, giving the impression that the government recognizes only one religious group.

Religious violence in Nigeria has been on the rise in recent years, a trend many link to the adoption of Sharia, or Islamic law, in 11 Nigerian states.

In their statement, the lawyers also spoke about the need for better accommodation of different religious practices, requesting that future elections, exams and other mandatory activities not be held on Saturdays, so that Sabbath-keepers can also participate.

Nigeria, a West African country located between Benin and Cameroon, has a population of more than 123 million people. An estimated 50 percent of the population is Muslim, and 40 percent is Christian. There are some 150,000 Adventist Church members in Nigeria worshipping in more than 1,000 congregations.