Persistent rains stall small-scale businesses in Lagos

The persistent rains that fell last week in Lagos State, the commercial nerve centre of the country, has been a mix bag of blessing and misfortune for many small-scale entrepreneurs and traders in the state.

Although the rains have caused tremendous havoc in parts of the city hampering businesses, many traders are however counting their blessings as the rains have provided them opportunities to rake in more profit. For instance, dealers on wears such as sweaters, cardigans, rain boots, rain coat, shower-caps and umbrella are making brisk business from the persistent rains.

For instance, Mr. Samuel Adebayo who sells umbrellas at Alaba Rago market, Lagos said: “Now I am making sales. Before (the rains), I sale one umbrella for N700 but now it goes for N1, 500 because of its high demand”.

Another trader, Mr. Yusuf Abubarka in the same Alaba Rago said “I make sales during raining seasons, I sell rain boot for N850 during the dry season but since the raining season, the demand for it has increased. I now sell each for N1, 600”.

Flooding has caused environmental problems in many parts of the state and has also hampered te free flow of business.

Sales of goods and services have nosedived to its lowest ebb as a result of the rainy season. Traders, business ventures and small scale industrialists now find it difficult to meet their financial obligations as a result of the menace of the rains apart from the problem posed by the general economic recession in the country.