As heavy rainfall continues across Lagos State, many residents are increasingly opting for nylon raincoats over conventional umbrellas, citing affordability, convenience, and better protection against the weather.
Motorcyclists, traders, schoolchildren, commuters, public servants, and other residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the shift reflects changing consumer preferences amid rising living costs.
A public servant, Adedipe Muhammed, said raincoats provide more comprehensive protection from the rain while eliminating the inconvenience of carrying an umbrella.
According to him, nylon raincoats are cheaper than even the least expensive umbrellas and reduce the likelihood of being forgotten in public transport or other places.
“The current economic situation has affected the prices of goods and influenced consumer choices. Using a raincoat reduces stress, and it is affordable,” he said.
An undergraduate living in Ojo Barracks, Joshua Okoh, said raincoats are better suited to his daily movement around the city.
“Raincoat is easier to move around with. I just wear it, and I am good to go,” he said, adding that it offers better coverage during heavy downpours.
Okoh noted that lightweight nylon raincoats currently sell for between ₦500 and ₦1,000, while thicker, more durable versions cost between ₦2,500 and ₦3,000.
At Computer Village in Ikeja, phone repairer Ibrahim Sulaiman said he switched to raincoats because umbrellas are easier to misplace and have become more expensive.
“The price of umbrellas has increased, so the nylon raincoat is more affordable to the common man,” he said.
Similarly, Blessing Addo, a soft drink seller in Apapa, said nylon raincoats are easy to fold and carry in handbags, making them practical for everyday use.
She observed that raincoats, once associated mainly with manual workers, are now widely accepted among bankers, government employees, and other professionals.
“Today, bankers and government workers wearing official outfits prefer to use nylon raincoats. They no longer see them as something meant for low-class people. There is no shame in wearing them because they are actually more convenient,” she said.
Addo added that the price of a basic nylon raincoat has risen from about ₦200 last year to between ₦500 and ₦1,000.
Another resident, Kehinde Wale, also attributed the growing popularity of raincoats to the rising cost of umbrellas, saying many Lagosians now consider nylon raincoats the more practical and economical option during the rainy season.
Credit: NAN
