Chapters
Warri
Oil and steel · Creeks of the Warri River
Play WarriEra III · Khaki to Agbada
The five ages
- 1
Democracy returns
1999–2000 · town-centre level 1Civilian rule returns in May 1999. Warri, the oil town on the Warri River, is proud of its refinery, opened in 1978, and the steel works at Aladja, opened in 1982, but both run far below what they were built for, and fighting between communities has shaken the city since 1997.
- 2
Lines open
2001–2004 · town-centre level 4Mobile phones arrive in 2001. Make peace between the city’s quarters, mend the refinery and keep the port open.
- 3
The creek war
2005–2007 · town-centre level 7From 2006 armed militants in the creeks attack oil installations, and kidnappers prey on oil workers.
- 4
The amnesty
2008–2010 · town-centre level 10The amnesty of 2009 brings calm to the creeks, and the city looks to its refinery and port again.
- 5
Naija Now
2010s · town-centre level 13 (beyond this era)The story continues in Naija Now.
People of Warri
The figures who appear as the city grows, run by the Council chairman.
The Council chairman
That is youA term to bring peace and work to the oil town.
The refinery engineers
The Warri refineryThey keep old machines running on skill and spare parts.
Portrait: fictional depiction
The river traders
The waterfrontTheir boats carry goods to every creek town.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| The council treasurer | The money | people, trade and the treasury |
| The divisional police officer | Security | the police and Peace |
| Adviser on religious affairs | Churches and mosques | Faith and faith balance |
| The education secretary | Schools and training | Progress and research |
| The market leaders | The Warri traders’ union | Wealth and Unity |
| The health secretary | Clinics and hospitals | Health |
| The power adviser | Power and fuel | the grid |
| The legislative council | Councillors | 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 | Pipeline vandals | None |
| Third The creek war | Kidnap gangs | Kidnappers on the waterfront Oil workers taken from their homes |
| Fourth The amnesty | Militants | Militants from the creeks Gunboats come up the river |
| Fifth Naija Now | Cult gangs | 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 Warri 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.
Warri port
Unlocks at town-centre level 10Ships load on the Warri River. 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.
Delta Steel at Aladja
Unlocks at town-centre level 8A steel works built to make a million tonnes a year, opened in 1982. 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
Warri refinery
Unlocks at town-centre level 4Opened in 1978, built to refine 125,000 barrels a day. Wealth and Progress.
Petroleum Training Institute
Unlocks at town-centre level 6Founded at Effurun in 1972 to train the oil industry’s engineers and technicians. Progress and research.
The waterfront
Unlocks at town-centre level 7Houses on stilts, jetties and fishing canoes along the Warri River. Unity and visitors. 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 Warri refinery opened in 1978 with a capacity of 125,000 barrels a day.
- Delta Steel at Ovwian-Aladja began working in 1982, built for a million tonnes of steel a year.
- The Petroleum Training Institute at Effurun was set up by law in 1972.
- Warri is a port on the Warri River; the capital of Delta State is Asaba.
- In 2009 a federal amnesty offered Niger Delta militants training and allowances in return for their weapons.
- 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.
- 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.
- Nigeria marked fifty years of independence on 1 October 2010.