Lagos residents ditch umbrellas for nylon raincoats as rains intensify

As rainfall intensifies in Lagos State, residents are abandoning conventional umbrellas in favour of nylon raincoats for convenience and to save costs.

The growing preference for nylon raincoats has been observed among motorcyclists, schoolchildren, traders, public servants, commuters and others.

Some residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that they were seeking a cheaper and more convenient way to protect themselves from the rain.

A public servant, Mr Adedipe Muhammed, said that raincoats covered the body better than umbrellas and eliminated the burden of carrying an extra item.

He also said that nylon raincoats were cheaper than even the least expensive umbrellas.

Muhammed added that using a raincoat eliminated the risk of forgetting an umbrella on a bus or elsewhere.

According to him, the current economic situation has affected the cost of goods and, consequently, influenced consumer choices.

“Using a raincoat reduces stress, and it is affordable,” he said.

An undergraduate, Mr Joshua Okoh, who lives at Ojo Barracks, said that umbrellas were not convenient for him because of his frequent movement around the city.

“A raincoat is easier to move around with. I just wear it, and I am good to go,” he said.

He added that with a raincoat, he could move quickly and freely, while it covered his body better than an umbrella.

Okoh noted that the prices of raincoats depended on their quality and texture.

“The light ones cost between ₦500 and ₦1,000, while the thicker ones go for between ₦2,500 and ₦3,000.”

He told NAN that he preferred wearing raincoats because of their convenience and protection against heavy rain.

He added that many people preferred raincoats to umbrellas because they were cheaper, easier to use and less stressful to manage during rainfall.

Miss Abdullateef Halifax, who sells frozen foods at Iyana Ipaja, told NAN that she preferred raincoats because they protected her hair and covered her body properly, unlike an umbrella, which did not protect the lower part of the body from getting wet.

“Raincoats are actually cheaper than umbrellas, so I prefer the cheaper and more protective alternative,” she said.

Mr Ibrahim Sulaiman, a phone repairer at Computer Village in Ikeja, said that he preferred raincoats because umbrellas were easily misplaced.

He noted that nylon raincoats, in particular, were affordable.

“The price of umbrellas has increased, so nylon raincoats are more affordable for the common man,” he said.

Mrs Blessing Addo, who sells carbonated drinks in Apapa, said she used a nylon raincoat because she could easily fold it and put it in her handbag.

She said that raincoats were not generally used in the past by white-collar and executive workers.

“Today, bankers and government workers in official attire prefer to use nylon raincoats. They no longer see them as something worn by low-class people.

“There is no shame in wearing them because they are actually more convenient,” she said.

According to her, a nylon raincoat cost ₦200 last year but now sells for between ₦500 and ₦1,000.

Mrs Kehinde Wale noted that umbrellas were becoming too expensive, encouraging more people to choose raincoats, especially nylon ones.

NAN reports that umbrellas were originally designed in ancient civilisations as sunshades before being adapted for rain protection in Europe.

Over time, they became widely used for protection from both the sun and rain, although modern low-cost umbrellas are often considered less durable during heavy rainfall and strong winds. (NAN)