In Nigeria's largest city, Monopoly mimics its chaotic property market

Lagos, Nigeria

THE clock was running out at the Lagos Under-17 Monopoly Championship, and the pace of play was becoming so frantic, it was hard to decipher the true holder of Banana Island, Tiamiyu Savage Street and other properties on the board.

"I am the owner of this house!" shouted Ibrahim Mubarak, 14, a student from Isale Eko Junior Grammar School, his finger jabbing the property on the board.

But just after the student collected his rent, time was up: The largest Monopoly tournament in Africa's biggest city was finished.

Crumpled and weathered Monopoly money lay scattered across 153 wobbly tables in the stuffy gymnasium, where more tha…