Chapters
Ibadan
Capital of the Western Region · Seven hills and rust-red roofs
Play IbadanEra II · Independence
The five ages
- 1
Independence
1960–1962 · town-centre level 1Ibadan is the capital of the Western Region and one of the largest cities in Africa, a sea of rust-red roofs over seven hills. Western Nigeria Television, the first television station in Nigeria, went on air here on 31 October 1959, and Liberty Stadium opens on 30 September 1960, on the eve of independence.
- 2
The First Republic
1963–1967 · town-centre level 4Cocoa pays for the region: Cocoa House, finished in 1965, is the tallest building in Nigeria. The University of Ibadan, the country’s oldest, became a full university in 1962. Politics turns violent after the regional election of October 1965; in 1966 soldiers seize power twice, and on 30 May 1967 the East declares itself a separate republic.
- 3
The war
1967–1968 · town-centre level 7War begins on 6 July 1967. In August an army from the East crosses the Mid-West and reaches Ore, on the road to Ibadan and Lagos. In this game the war comes to the city itself.
- 4
The end of the war
1969–1970 · town-centre level 10The last battles of the war. When the guns stop, cocoa money and the university will carry the city into the 1970s.
- 5
The 1970s
1970s · town-centre level 13 (beyond this era)The story continues in Khaki to Agbada.
People of Ibadan
The figures who appear as the city grows, run by the Administrator.
The Administrator
That is youAnswerable to the regional government, with a city of seven hills to run.
The cocoa farmers
The region’s wealthTheir crop built Cocoa House and pays for the region’s schools.
Portrait: fictional depiction
The WNTV announcers
The first television in NigeriaThey bring the news, music and lessons into homes across the West.
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 | Progress and research |
| The cocoa marketing board | 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 broken away, and its army is coming west through the Mid-West. Ibadan stands on the road to Lagos. Seven battles stand between the secessionists and the city.
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 nation holds together.
| Level | Battle | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | The Battle of Ore | The secessionist army has crossed the Mid-West. Stop it at Ore, before it reaches the Yoruba towns. |
| 6 | The Battle of Ondo | They turn north for Ondo and the road to Ife. |
| 7 | The Battle of Ife | They march on Ile-Ife, the ancient holy city. |
| 8 | The Battle of Ilesa | A second column comes through Ilesa. |
| 9 | The Battle of Gbongan | The columns meet at the Gbongan crossroads, a day’s march from Ibadan. |
| 10 | The Battle of Iwo Road | They reach the eastern edge of the city along Iwo Road. |
| 11 | The Battle for Mapo Hill | The last assault, up the hill to Mapo Hall in the heart of Ibadan. |
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 Ibadan 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.
Freight yard
Unlocks at town-centre level 10The railway freight yard where cocoa leaves for Lagos. 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.
Cocoa House
Unlocks at town-centre level 8Finished in 1965 with 26 floors and paid for by the region’s cocoa farmers, it was the tallest building in Nigeria until 1979. 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
Mapo Hall
Unlocks at town-centre level 4The colonnaded city hall on Mapo Hill, finished in 1929. Unity and visitors.
Liberty Stadium
Unlocks at town-centre level 6Opened on 30 September 1960, on the eve of independence; Nigeria’s first floodlit match was played here that October. Unity and events.
WNTV mast
Unlocks at town-centre level 8Western Nigeria Television, the first television station in Nigeria, began broadcasting on 31 October 1959. Unity, Progress and visitors.
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?
- Western Nigeria Television began broadcasting from Ibadan on 31 October 1959, the first television station in Nigeria.
- Liberty Stadium in Ibadan opened on 30 September 1960; it is now the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium.
- Cocoa House, finished in 1965 with 26 floors, was the tallest building in Nigeria until 1979.
- Mapo Hall, Ibadan’s colonnaded city hall, was finished in 1929.
- University College Ibadan was founded in 1948 and became the University of Ibadan in 1962.
- The University College Hospital in Ibadan opened in 1957.
- 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.