Chapters
Lagos
The federal capital · Lagoon and Atlantic coast
Play LagosEra II · Independence
The five ages
- 1
Independence
1960–1962 · town-centre level 1At midnight on 1 October 1960 the Union Jack comes down at the Lagos Race Course, and Nigeria is independent with Lagos as its capital. Highlife plays in every club. Build homes, markets, power and order for a new nation’s capital.
- 2
The First Republic
1963–1967 · town-centre level 4Nigeria becomes a republic on 1 October 1963, and the University of Lagos, opened in 1962, grows at Akoka. Oil money starts to pay. A general strike in June 1964 stops the country for about two weeks. 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 towards Lagos and is stopped at Ore. Ships, troops and supplies leave from Apapa, and the capital lives on war news. 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, the capital starts planning for the 1970s: new roads, bridges and an oil boom.
- 5
The 1970s
1970s · town-centre level 13 (beyond this era)The story continues in Khaki to Agbada.
People of Lagos
The figures who appear as the city grows, run by the Administrator.
The Administrator
That is youAppointed to run the new nation’s capital, and answerable to the federal government.
The highlife bandleaders
The sound of the cityTheir bands play the clubs every night of the week.
Portrait: fictional depiction
The market women
The city’s tradersTheir associations can make or break a policy in a week.
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 new university | 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 federal government | It appoints the administrator | whether you keep your post |
The war
The East has broken away, and its army is coming west along the coast road. If it reaches Lagos, the country falls with it. Seven battles stand between the secessionists and the capital.
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 and is on the road to Lagos. It must be stopped at Ore. |
| 6 | The Battle of Ijebu-Ode | They push on through the Ijebu country towards the lagoon. |
| 7 | The Battle of Epe | They cross the lagoon in boats and land at the fishing town of Epe. |
| 8 | The Battle of Ikorodu | A column swings round the lagoon to come down on Ikorodu. |
| 9 | The Lekki landing | Boats run along the coast at night and land troops on the Lekki beaches. |
| 10 | The Battle of Ikeja | They make for the airport at Ikeja, to cut the capital off from the world. |
| 11 | The Battle for Lagos Island | The last throw: an assault across the water on the Island 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 Lagos 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.
Apapa wharf
Unlocks at town-centre level 10Ships from every ocean at the nation’s main port. A large Wealth producer. Must touch the water.
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.
Federal Palace Hotel
Unlocks at town-centre level 8Built in 1960 to house the guests of the independence celebrations. 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
The Race Course
Unlocks at town-centre level 6Where the Union Jack came down at midnight on 1 October 1960; later renamed Tafawa Balewa Square. Unity and events.
Bar Beach
Unlocks at town-centre level 7The great public beach on Victoria Island, crowded every weekend. Must touch the water.
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?
- Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960, with Lagos as its capital.
- The Union Jack came down at the Lagos Race Course at midnight on 1 October 1960.
- The University of Lagos opened on 22 October 1962 with 131 students.
- The Federal Palace Hotel was built in 1960 to house the guests of the independence celebrations.
- A general strike that began on 1 June 1964 stopped much of the country for about two weeks.
- The Nigerian Air Force was formed in 1964.
- In August 1967 an army from the East crossed the Mid-West and was stopped at Ore, on the road to Lagos.
- 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.