Chapters
Enugu
The coal city, capital of the East · Hills and coal valleys
Play EnuguEra II · Independence
The five ages
- 1
Independence
1960–1962 · town-centre level 1Enugu, the coal city, is the capital of the Eastern Region; coal has come out of the hills here since 1915. On independence day the region’s own radio and television go on air, the second television station in Nigeria, and a week later the University of Nigeria opens at Nsukka.
- 2
The First Republic
1963–1967 · town-centre level 4The mines, the railway and the new factories bring people from all over the region. In 1966 soldiers seize power twice, and hundreds of thousands of easterners come home from other parts of the country. On 30 May 1967 the East declares itself an independent republic, with Enugu as its capital.
- 3
The war
1967–1968 · town-centre level 7On 6 July 1967 the war comes: an army crosses into the East from the north, and Enugu is the prize. In this game the war is yours to win. Hold the city and it becomes a free republic.
- 4
The end of the war
1969–1970 · town-centre level 10The last battles of the war. Whatever the end, the 1970s will start in a changed country.
- 5
The 1970s
1970s · town-centre level 13 (beyond this era)The story continues in Khaki to Agbada.
People of Enugu
The figures who appear as the city grows, run by the Administrator.
The Administrator
That is youRunning the capital of the East through independence and war.
The coal miners
The Iva Valley pitsThe men who dig the coal that drives the railway.
Portrait: fictional depiction
The students at Nsukka
The new universityThe first students of a university that opened a week after independence.
Portrait: fictional depictionYour hero in battle
Air support
Air supportA helicopter flies support for the police and the army. Ability: Air cover. Every unit nearby fights harder: +35% damage for 12 seconds.
The council
| Seat | Who they are | Speaks for |
|---|---|---|
| The Town Clerk | Runs the council offices | people, trade and the treasury |
| The Commissioner of Police | Security, and the army when war comes | the police, the army and Peace |
| Adviser on religious affairs | Churches and mosques | Faith and faith balance |
| Chief Education Officer | Schools and the university at Nsukka | Progress and research |
| The Coal Corporation | Merchants and traders | Wealth and Unity |
| Medical Officer of Health | Hospitals and clinics | Health |
| The ECN district engineer | Power | the grid |
| The regional government | It appoints the administrator | whether you keep your post |
The war
The East has declared itself a republic, with Enugu as its capital, and an army is coming from the north to take it back. In this game the war is yours to win: hold the city through seven battles and it becomes the Enugu Republic.
From town-centre level 4 the council warns that war is coming. A battle comes each time the town centre reaches a new level from 5 to 11. Win 4 of the 7 and the city becomes the Enugu Republic.
| Level | Battle | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | The Battle of Nsukka | They cross into the East from the north and march on the university town of Nsukka. |
| 6 | The Battle of Opi Junction | They push south down the Nsukka road to the junction at Opi. |
| 7 | The Battle of Ninth Mile Corner | They reach Ninth Mile Corner, where the northern roads meet above the city. |
| 8 | The Battle of Udi | A column climbs into the Udi hills to come at the city from the west. |
| 9 | The Battle of Milliken Hill | They fight their way down the steep escarpment road of Milliken Hill. |
| 10 | The Battle of Abakpa | They break into the northern suburbs at Abakpa. |
| 11 | The Battle for Enugu | The last assault, on the coal city itself. |
The battles are the game’s own fiction set in real places near the city. No real leader appears, and neither side is painted as the villain.
Raiders and bosses
Who comes for the city in each age. Bosses come once you are into their age. How raids work.
| Age | Raiders | Boss |
|---|---|---|
| First Independence | Armed robbers | None |
| Second The First Republic | Street gangs | None |
| Third The war | Smugglers | A night of rioting After the bitter election |
| Fourth The end of the war | Looters | None |
| Fifth The 1970s | Deserters | None |
Soldiers
| Soldier | From level | |
|---|---|---|
| Police officer | Riot police with shields and batons. | 2 |
| Soldier | Infantry with rifles. | 3 |
| Armoured car | Hard to stop and slow to fall. | 7 |
| Marksman | One heavy shot from far away. | 10 |
Buildings
Every building Enugu can raise, shown as it looks in the middle of the story. What each type does.
People
Housing estate
Unlocks at town-centre level 1From crowded yards to the new estates of the 1960s. Houses your people.
Hospital
Unlocks at town-centre level 4Raises Health, and healthy workers produce more. Raiders never touch it.
High Court
Unlocks at town-centre level 5Raises Trust and some Peace. Low Trust lets officials skim taxes.
Economy
Agro farm
Unlocks at town-centre level 1Mechanised farming and food processing. Tap it when it fills.
Cement works
Unlocks at town-centre level 1Cement for every building site in the city. Materials.
Steel works
Unlocks at town-centre level 2Iron rods and steel frames. Materials.
Cold store
Unlocks at town-centre level 1Refrigerated food storage. Raises your Food storage.
Warehouse
Unlocks at town-centre level 1Containers and building stock. Raises your Materials storage.
Bank
Unlocks at town-centre level 3Raises how much Wealth you can keep.
Market
Unlocks at town-centre level 3Umbrella stalls that grow into malls. Wealth, plus a little Unity.
ECN power station
Unlocks at town-centre level 1The Electricity Corporation of Nigeria’s station. Every building draws power; when supply runs short, the lights go out.
Railway coal yard
Unlocks at town-centre level 10Coal trains leave for Port Harcourt and the sea. A large Wealth producer.
Culture
Church
Unlocks at town-centre level 1Raises Faith. Keep churches and mosques in balance: if one far outnumbers the other, Unity falls. Raiders never touch it.
Mosque
Unlocks at town-centre level 1Raises Faith. Keep mosques and churches in balance: if one far outnumbers the other, Unity falls. Raiders never touch it.
University
Unlocks at town-centre level 4Lecture halls that grow into a tech campus. Makes Knowledge and runs research. Raiders never touch it.
Stadium
Unlocks at town-centre level 4Match days and concerts. Raises Unity. A big enough stadium can host the Africa Cup of Nations.
Air Force base
Unlocks at town-centre level 7The Nigerian Air Force was formed in 1964. Brings a helicopter to your forces.
The university at Nsukka
Unlocks at town-centre level 8The University of Nigeria opened at Nsukka, north of Enugu, on 7 October 1960, a week after independence. Heritage for the ladder.
Defence
Police station
Unlocks at town-centre level 3Raises Peace and keeps robbers off the streets.
Security post
Unlocks at town-centre level 2A floodlit post behind sandbags that fires on attackers.
Security wall
Unlocks at town-centre level 4Concrete walls with razor wire and cameras, section by section.
Checkpoint
Unlocks at town-centre level 4A manned barrier where an avenue crosses the security wall.
Armoured car troop
Unlocks at town-centre level 10Armoured cars behind sandbags. Hits hard, reloads slowly.
Army
Army barracks
Unlocks at town-centre level 2Each level holds more soldiers.
Industrial park
Unlocks at town-centre level 5Factories and workshops. Raises Progress.
Landmarks
Iva Valley colliery
Unlocks at town-centre level 4The coal mine opened in 1917 in the hills above the city. In 1949 police shot dead 21 striking miners here. Wealth and Heritage.
Eastern Nigeria Television
Unlocks at town-centre level 6The region’s radio and television went on air on 1 October 1960, the second television station in Nigeria. Unity and Progress.
Research
| Technology | Branch | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Improved seed | Farming | Better seed and fertiliser: +10% Food. |
| Cold chains | Farming | Less food spoils on the way: +15% Food storage. |
| Irrigation | Farming | Year-round farming: +15% Food. |
| Agro-processing | Farming | More value from every harvest: +20% Food. |
| Building codes | Building | Fewer collapses, faster approvals: builds 8% faster. |
| Steel frames | Building | Taller and stronger: buildings +10% sturdier. |
| Local cement | Building | Cheaper materials: builds cost 8% less. |
| Prefab towers | Building | Factory-built floors: builds 10% faster. |
| Police training | Defence | Better trained officers: +8% damage. |
| CCTV network | Defence | Cameras on every post: posts +12% damage. |
| Body armour | Defence | Better protection: +12% unit health. |
| Drones | Defence | Eyes in the sky: +12% damage. |
| Instant payments | Trade | Transfers in seconds: +10% Wealth. |
| Ease of business | Trade | Fewer forms and fees: +12% Wealth. |
| Free trade zone | Trade | Investors and exporters move in: +20% Wealth. |
| Teacher training | Learning | Better teachers: +15% Knowledge. |
| Tech hubs | Learning | Coders and start-ups: research 15% faster. |
| Research labs | Learning | Universities that invent: +20% Knowledge. |
| Festival calendar | Heritage | Concerts, carnivals and festivals: Faith and Unity rise. |
| Nollywood studios | Heritage | Films for the whole continent: Heritage. |
| Afrobeats on the world stage | Heritage | The city’s sound goes global: Heritage. |
| Fintech signature | Heritage | Signature tech. Money moves by phone: Knowledge and Progress. |
| Urban rail signature | Defence | Signature tech. Trains link the districts: walls and posts 25% stronger. |
Did you know?
- Coal has been mined at Enugu since 1915; the Iva Valley mine opened in 1917.
- On 18 November 1949 police shot dead 21 striking miners at Iva Valley.
- The Eastern Region’s radio and television went on air in Enugu on 1 October 1960, the second television station in Nigeria.
- The University of Nigeria opened at Nsukka on 7 October 1960.
- The name Enugu comes from the Igbo for “the top of the hill”.
- On 30 May 1967 the Eastern Region declared itself an independent republic, with Enugu as its capital.
- Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960 and a republic on 1 October 1963.
- In 1960 the national motto was “Unity and Faith”; “Peace and Progress” were added in 1978.
- On 27 May 1967 the four regions were replaced by twelve states.
- The Electricity Corporation of Nigeria ran the power stations until NEPA was formed in 1972.