Chapters
Lagos
Democracy returns · Lagoon and Atlantic coast
Play LagosEra III · Khaki to Agbada
The five ages
- 1
Democracy returns
1999–2000 · town-centre level 1On 29 May 1999 Nigeria returns to civilian rule and Lagos swears in an elected governor. NEPA takes the light most nights, petrol queues snake round the filling stations, and yellow molue and danfo buses rule the roads. Start with homes, markets, power and order.
- 2
Lines open
2001–2004 · town-centre level 4Mobile phones arrive: commercial GSM service starts in August 2001, and masts rise on every street. Nollywood films sell on tape and disc from the Idumota market, and okada carry the city to work.
- 3
Banks and big money
2005–2007 · town-centre level 7The central bank orders every bank to hold ₦25 billion by the end of 2005, and 89 banks become 25. NEPA becomes PHCN in 2005, but the generators keep humming.
- 4
Towards the megacity
2008–2010 · town-centre level 10Africa’s first bus rapid transit line opens on 17 March 2008. Work begins on a sea wall to stop the ocean eating Bar Beach, and in October 2010 the nation turns fifty.
- 5
Naija Now
2010s · town-centre level 13 (beyond this era)The story continues in Naija Now.
People of Lagos
The figures who appear as the city grows, run by the Governor.
The Governor
That is youThe first elected governor in years, with four years to show what democracy can do.
The molue conductors
The yellow busesThey hang off the door calling the stops, and they know every street.
Portrait: fictional depiction
The Idumota film sellers
Nollywood’s first marketTapes and discs go from their stalls to the whole continent.
Portrait: fictional depictionYour hero in battle
Helicopter gunship
Air coverFlies over walls straight to the fight. Ability: Air cover. Every unit nearby fights harder: +35% damage for 12 seconds.
The council
| Seat | Who they are | Speaks for |
|---|---|---|
| Commissioner for Finance | The treasury and the economy | people, trade and the treasury |
| Commissioner of Police | Security | the police, the army and Peace |
| Adviser on religious affairs | Churches and mosques | Faith and faith balance |
| Commissioner for Education | Schools and universities | Progress and research |
| Commissioner for Commerce | Markets and investors | Wealth and Unity |
| Commissioner for Health | Hospitals | Health |
| Commissioner for Energy | Power and fuel | the grid |
| The House of Assembly | Lawmakers | impeachment, and whether you keep office |
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 Democracy returns | Armed robbers | None |
| Second Lines open | Area boys’ gangs | None |
| Third Banks and big money | Pipeline vandals | A gang war at the motor park Rival gangs fight for the parks |
| Fourth Towards the megacity | Cult gangs | A night of riots The city burns for a night |
| Fifth Naija Now | Armed militia | 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 face-me-I-face-you blocks to towers. 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.
NEPA power station
Unlocks at town-centre level 1The national grid’s local station. When it fails, NEPA has “taken light” and the generators start. Every building draws power.
Apapa port
Unlocks at town-centre level 10Containers and ships at Nigeria’s busiest 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 base
Unlocks at town-centre level 7A helipad and hangar. Brings the helicopter gunship to your forces.
National Theatre
Unlocks at town-centre level 8The cap-shaped landmark at Iganmu, opened in 1976. 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 unit
Unlocks at town-centre level 10Armoured vehicles 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
Freedom Park
Unlocks at town-centre level 4Opened in October 2010 on the site of the old Broad Street Prison, for fifty years of independence. Unity, Heritage and visitors.
Tafawa Balewa Square
Unlocks at town-centre level 6The old Lagos Race Course, where independence was celebrated on 1 October 1960. Unity and events.
Third Mainland Bridge
Unlocks at town-centre level 11Completed in 1990, 11.8 km across the Lagos Lagoon; the longest bridge in Africa until 1996. Progress and trade. Must touch the water.
The Bar Beach sea wall
Unlocks at town-centre level 12Begun at the end of the 2000s to stop the ocean eating Bar Beach and Victoria Island. Shields the coast from storm surges. Must touch the water.
Bar Beach
Unlocks at town-centre level 7The great public beach on Victoria Island, crowded every weekend, and the first place the ocean surges hit. 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 returned to civilian rule on 29 May 1999, after more than fifteen years of military government.
- Commercial mobile phone service began in Nigeria in August 2001.
- Living in Bondage (1992), sold on tape, is often called the film that started Nollywood.
- NEPA, the National Electric Power Authority, became PHCN in 2005.
- By the end of 2005 every bank needed ₦25 billion in capital, and 89 banks became 25.
- Africa’s first bus rapid transit line, Lagos BRT-Lite, opened on 17 March 2008.
- The Third Mainland Bridge, opened in 1990, was Africa’s longest bridge until 1996.
- The molue, a big yellow bus built on a Mercedes truck, was the workhorse of Lagos roads.
- Nigeria marked fifty years of independence on 1 October 2010.
- The national motto is “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress”.