Chapters
Onitsha
The market city on the Niger · Forest on the east bank of the Niger
Play OnitshaEra II · Independence
The five ages
- 1
Independence
1960–1962 · town-centre level 1Onitsha, on the east bank of the Niger, has one of the biggest markets in West Africa. Traders come by canoe, lorry and ferry, and the town’s printers sell little pamphlet novels, the Onitsha market literature, all over the country.
- 2
The First Republic
1963–1967 · town-centre level 4The Niger Bridge opens in December 1965: 1.4 kilometres of steel joining Onitsha to Asaba. In 1966 soldiers seize power twice, and families come home from other parts of the country. On 30 May 1967 the East declares itself an independent republic.
- 3
The war
1967–1968 · town-centre level 7On 6 July 1967 the war comes. The bridge and the river crossing make Onitsha a 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 market will open again.
- 5
The 1970s
1970s · town-centre level 13 (beyond this era)The story continues in Khaki to Agbada.
People of Onitsha
The figures who appear as the city grows, run by the Administrator.
The Administrator
That is youRunning West Africa’s great market town on the Niger.
The market women
The Main MarketTheir associations run the stalls, set the prices and keep the peace.
Portrait: fictional depiction
The pamphlet printers
Onitsha market literatureTheir little books of love stories and advice sell for a few pennies across the country.
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 colleges | Progress and research |
| The market traders’ union | 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, and an army is coming to take the Niger crossing at Onitsha. In this game the war is yours to win: hold the city through seven battles and it becomes the Onitsha 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 Onitsha Republic.
| Level | Battle | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | The Battle of the Niger Bridge | They try to rush the new bridge from Asaba. |
| 6 | The river crossing | Boats full of soldiers set out across the Niger for the waterfront. |
| 7 | The Battle of the waterfront | They land below the market and fight up through the waterside streets. |
| 8 | The Battle of Nkpor | A column that crossed the river far upstream comes down on Nkpor junction. |
| 9 | The Battle of Abagana | A long convoy heads up the Enugu road past Abagana. |
| 10 | The Battle of Ogidi | They try again through Ogidi, north of the town. |
| 11 | The Battle for the Main Market | The last assault, on the great market 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 Onitsha 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.
River port
Unlocks at town-centre level 10Barges and canoes load at the Niger waterfront. 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.
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Unlocks at town-centre level 8The Catholic cathedral of Onitsha, finished in 1935 and dedicated on 5 December 1960. 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
Onitsha Main Market
Unlocks at town-centre level 4One of the biggest markets in West Africa, where traders from across the country buy and sell. Wealth and Unity.
The Niger Bridge
Unlocks at town-centre level 11Opened in December 1965: 1,404 metres of steel across the Niger between Onitsha and Asaba. Progress and trade. 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?
- The Niger Bridge between Onitsha and Asaba opened in December 1965 and is about 1,404 metres long.
- Onitsha market literature, little pamphlet books printed in the town, sold across Nigeria from the 1940s to the 1960s.
- Onitsha Main Market is one of the largest markets in West Africa.
- On 31 March 1968 a long army convoy was ambushed at Abagana, on the road from Onitsha to Enugu.
- On 30 May 1967 the Eastern Region declared itself an independent republic.
- 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.