Lagos locals swap traditional umbrellas for plastic ponchos as downpours strengthen

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As rainfall intensifies in Lagos State, many residents are abandoning conventional umbrellas in favour of nylon raincoats, citing convenience and affordability.

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

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Some residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday said they were opting for a cheaper and more convenient means of protecting themselves from the rain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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He added that with a raincoat, he could move quickly and freely while enjoying better protection than an umbrella.

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Okoh noted that the prices of raincoats varied according to their quality and thickness.

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

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

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

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Miss Abdullateef Halifax, who sells frozen foods at Iyana Ipaja, said she preferred raincoats because they protected her hair and covered her body better than umbrellas, which left the lower part of the body exposed to the rain.

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

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

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

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

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

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She said raincoats were not commonly used in the past by “white-collar and executive workers.”

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

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

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

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Mrs Kehinde Wale also noted that umbrellas had become too expensive, encouraging more people to opt for raincoats, especially nylon ones.

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

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

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