Chapters
Kaduna
Capital of the Northern Region · Savanna on the Kaduna River
Play KadunaEra II · Independence
The five ages
- 1
Independence
1960–1962 · town-centre level 1Kaduna, laid out by the British from 1913 on the Kaduna River, is the capital of the Northern Region, the largest region in the country. Kaduna Textiles, the first large textile mill in Nigeria, has been spinning since 1957, and the railway workshops hum.
- 2
The First Republic
1963–1967 · town-centre level 4The Nigerian Defence Academy opens in Kaduna on 5 February 1964 to train officers for the army, navy and air force. In 1966 soldiers seize power twice. On 27 May 1967 the regions give way to twelve states and Kaduna becomes the capital of North-Central State; three days later the East declares itself a separate republic.
- 3
The war
1967–1968 · town-centre level 7War begins on 6 July 1967, and the academy’s young officers go to the front. In this game the war comes to the northern capital itself.
- 4
The end of the war
1969–1970 · town-centre level 10The last battles of the war. When the guns stop, the mills and the railway will carry Kaduna into the 1970s.
- 5
The 1970s
1970s · town-centre level 13 (beyond this era)The story continues in Khaki to Agbada.
People of Kaduna
The figures who appear as the city grows, run by the Administrator.
The Administrator
That is youAnswerable to the regional government in the capital of the North.
The mill workers
Kaduna TextilesThousands of spinners and weavers make cloth for the whole country.
Portrait: fictional depiction
The academy cadets
Officers in trainingYoung men from every region learn to lead the army, navy and air force.
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 academy | Progress and research |
| The Chamber of Commerce | 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 means to split the country. In this game the war reaches the northern capital. Seven battles stand between the secessionists and Kaduna.
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 Kafanchan | They come up the railway from the south to the junction town of Kafanchan. |
| 6 | The Battle of Kachia | A column takes the road through Kachia towards the capital. |
| 7 | The Battle of the Kaduna bridge | They try to seize the bridge over the Kaduna River. |
| 8 | The Battle of Kakuri | They strike at the textile mills of Kakuri, south of the city. |
| 9 | The Battle of the airfield | A column makes for the airfield to cut the city off. |
| 10 | The Battle of Kawo | They circle round to come in from the north at Kawo. |
| 11 | The Battle for Lugard Hall | The last assault, on Lugard Hall and the heart of the capital. |
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 Kaduna 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 goods yard
Unlocks at town-centre level 10Where the northern line loads groundnuts, cotton and cloth. 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.
Lugard Hall
Unlocks at town-centre level 8The domed assembly hall at the top of the main avenue, built in a simplified Islamic style. The Northern House of Assembly and House of Chiefs sat here until 1967. 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
Kaduna Textiles mill
Unlocks at town-centre level 4The first large textile mill in Nigeria, opened in November 1957 beside the river. Wealth and jobs.
Nigerian Defence Academy
Unlocks at town-centre level 6Founded in Kaduna on 5 February 1964 to train officers for the army, navy and air force. Peace 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?
- Work on the town of Kaduna began in 1913, on the Kaduna River.
- Kaduna takes its name from the Hausa word for crocodiles, once common in its river.
- Kaduna Textiles opened on 22 November 1957, the first large textile mill in Nigeria.
- The Nigerian Defence Academy was founded in Kaduna on 5 February 1964.
- Lugard Hall housed the Northern House of Assembly and the House of Chiefs until 1967.
- On 27 May 1967 Kaduna became the capital of North-Central State.
- 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.