As rainfalls intensify in Lagos State, the residents have abandoned the use of conventional umbrellas for nylon raincoats for convenience and to save cost.
The growing preference for nylon raincoats is observed among motorcyclists, schoolchildren, traders, public servants, commuters, and others.
Some of the residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that they were seeking a cheaper and more convenient alternative for protecting themselves against rainfalls.
A public servant, Mr Adedipe Muhammed, said that raincoats covered the body better than umbrellas and eliminated the burden of carrying an additional load.
He also said that nylon raincoats were cheaper than the cheapest umbrellas.
Muhammed added that using a raincoat eliminated the risk of forgetting an umbrella in a bus or any other place.
According to him, the current economic situation has affected costs 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 due to his frequent movement around the city.
“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, and it would cover his body better than an umbrella.
Okoh noted that the prices of raincoats depended on their qualities and textures.
“The lightvones cost between N500 and N1,000, while thick ones go for between ₦2,500 and ₦3,000.
He told NAN that he preferred wearing raincoats due to their convenience and protection against heavy rains.
He added that many people preferred wearing raincoats to using umbrellas because raincoats were cheaper, easier to use, and less stressful to manage during rainfalls.
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 that would 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 the Computer Village in Ikeja, said that he preferred raincoats because umbrellas got missing easily.
He noted that the nylon raincoat, particularly, was affordable.
“The price of umbrella has increased; so, the nylon raincoat is more affordable to the common man,” he said.
Mrs Blessing Addo, who sells carbonated drinks at Apapa, said she used a nylon raincoat because she could easily fold and put it in her handbag.
She said that raincoats were not generally used before now by “white collar and executive workers”.
“Today, bankers, government workers on official outfits prefer to use nylon raincoats. They no longer see them as an outfit for 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 N200 last year but now costs from N500 to N1,000.
Mrs Kehinde Wale noted that umbrellas were getting too expensive, thereby encouraging preference for raincoats, especially nylon.
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 both sun and rain, although modern low-cost umbrellas are often considered less durable during heavy rainfalls and strong winds.
