Chapters
Abuja
The capital · Savanna under Aso Rock
The five ages
- 1
Crisis
2023 · town-centre level 1The fuel subsidy is gone and the naira floats. The capital’s satellite towns have outgrown their roads and water pipes, the light rail has stood idle since 2020, and kidnappers prey on the outskirts. Start from the basics: homes, markets, power and order.
- 2
Recovery
2024–2027 · town-centre level 4The light rail carries passengers again from 29 May 2024. Bring water and power to the satellite towns, make the roads in and out safe, and open hospitals and schools that work every day.
- 3
Boom
2027–2032 · town-centre level 7Ministries, embassies and company headquarters fill the business district, and the trains reach the satellite towns. The capital becomes the place where deals are done.
- 4
Capital of a continent
2032–2040 · town-centre level 10Summits fill the hotels and towers rise along the city’s central axis, under the granite of Aso Rock.
- 5
World stage
2040s · town-centre level 13A seat at the table, rockets on the pad and an economy that outgrows whole countries.
People of Abuja
The figures who appear as the city grows, run by the Minister.
The Minister
That is youAppointed by the President to run the capital, and replaceable at any time.
The Wuse Market traders
The capital’s biggest marketTheir associations can make or break a policy in a week.
Portrait: fictional depiction
The keke riders
The tricyclesKept out of the city centre, they carry the satellite towns to work.
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 Permanent Secretary | Runs the FCT Administration day to day | people, trade and the treasury |
| Commissioner of Police, FCT | Security | the police, the army and Peace |
| Adviser on religious affairs | Churches and mosques | Faith and faith balance |
| Education Secretary | Schools and universities | Progress and research |
| Secretary for Commerce | Markets and investors | Wealth and Unity |
| Health Secretary | Hospitals | Health |
| Adviser on power | Power and fuel | the grid |
| The Presidency | The President, who appoints the minister | whether you keep your post |
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 Crisis | Armed robbers | None |
| Second Recovery | Gangs from the outskirts | None |
| Third Boom | Kidnap gangs | Kidnappers from the hills A night raid on the satellite towns |
| Fourth Capital of a continent | Militants | None |
| Fifth World stage | Armed militia | A border incursion Unnamed troops cross the border |
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 Abuja 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.
Power station
Unlocks at town-centre level 1Gas turbines, then solar fields. Every building draws power; when supply runs short, generators come on and output, Health and Unity suffer.
Freight terminal
Unlocks at town-centre level 10Containers arrive by rail and road and clear customs here. 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 base
Unlocks at town-centre level 7A helipad and hangar. Brings the helicopter gunship to your forces.
City Gate
Unlocks at town-centre level 8The great arch on the road in from the airport, in the green and white of the flag. 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.
Space centre
Unlocks at town-centre level 13Level 1 launches a satellite, level 3 flies an astronaut, level 5 lands on the Moon.
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
Millennium Park
Unlocks at town-centre level 4The capital’s largest park, with lawns and a water cascade; Queen Elizabeth II opened it on 4 December 2003. Unity, Health and visitors.
Eagle Square
Unlocks at town-centre level 6The great parade ground where presidents are sworn in and the nation marks Independence Day. Unity and events.
National Christian Centre
Unlocks at town-centre level 8The national church, dedicated on 2 October 2005, with its tall white spire. Unity and Faith.
National Mosque
Unlocks at town-centre level 11The golden dome and four minarets completed in 1984. Unity and Faith.
Capital Sky Needle
Unlocks at town-centre level 13A future project: a kilometre-tall tower with a glowing observation ring, taller than anything on Earth today. The world comes to look.
Savanna Arcology
Unlocks at town-centre level 14A future project: a stepped city in a single building, with farms, schools and homes for 100,000 people on its terraces.
Solar Crown
Unlocks at town-centre level 15A future project: a ring of solar parks and gardens held high above the city on white pillars. Clean power and a skyline nobody can copy.
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?
- Abuja replaced Lagos as Nigeria’s capital on 12 December 1991.
- The Federal Capital Territory was created in 1976.
- Aso Rock, the granite monolith over the city, rises about 400 metres; the seat of government is named after it.
- The Japanese architect Kenzo Tange drew the plan for Abuja’s Central Area.
- The National Mosque was completed in 1984.
- The National Christian Centre was dedicated on 2 October 2005.
- Queen Elizabeth II opened Millennium Park on 4 December 2003.
- The light rail was commissioned on 12 July 2018, stopped in 2020 and carried passengers again from 29 May 2024.
- Zuma Rock, on the road in from the north-west, is pictured on the ₦100 note.
- The Abuja–Kaduna railway began service in 2016.
- The fuel subsidy ended on 29 May 2023, and pump prices more than doubled.
- On 14 June 2023 the naira was floated; it fell from about ₦461 to about ₦770 to the dollar.
- Headline inflation peaked at 34.80% in December 2024; food inflation hit 40.87% in June 2024.
- Nigeria signed the Artemis Accords on 13 December 2022, one of the first two African countries to do so.
- The national motto is “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress”.