On a good day, the rainy seasons are easily one of the most difficult that the average Nigerian would have to deal with in the calendar year. Not expressly because of the rain itself or the weather, but because of everything that it causes. Many people abhor going out in the rain, not because they don’t want to get wet, but because it’s just too damn stressful for anyone who tries to attempt it. And there are many factors that are contributing to this fact.
One of them is our roads. A lot of our roads are unpaved, during the dry season, they’re good and fine. The only problem they pose is the amount of dust that gets raised when a strong wind blows. But other than that, it’s really not something that will be an issue. But during the rain, it all changes. The road becomes wet, and since it’s untarred, it becomes muddy and dangerously slippery. So, a bad step could mean that you fall on your face.
But that isn’t the only issue we face. We also have a poor drainage system. The rain that falls doesn’t go anywhere; our gutters and ditches don’t lead anywhere either. So, when it falls, it simply stays right there on the road, turning into muddy pools of water. The gutters fill up quickly and overflow into the road. And this is how floods happen. So, if you decide to step out in the rain, besides having to deal with the slippery and muddy road, you’ll also have to wade through floods, putting your feet on places you’re unsure of. So, you just might leave solid ground and put your feet into a gutter. You won’t know which is which underneath all that muddy water.
So, what if you manage to get through all this, then you pray you have a car, because if for any reason you have to rely on public transport, know that these guys will build houses and refineries on your wallet! Just the mere sight of dark clouds in the sky is enough to trigger a hike in the cost of transportation, chilly wind, and the mere promise of rain is enough to double the fare. And when it’s raining indeed? You might not even see them to begin with, and if you do, be ready to pay at least 4X what you normally would pay. Yeah, it’s cruel, I know.
So, you see why many people prefer to be indoors when it rains? Not necessarily because it’s usually cozy weather to curl up in your soft blanket and watch your favorite movie, but also because it banishes all ideas of heat and sweat. Okay, not only because… but also these reasons I stated as well.
And now, as we’re slowly getting into the thick of the rainy season, it’s going to get very wet. We’ll experience floods, transport hikes, and more cozy weather. This post is just to serve as a notice to be prepared. If you’ll be going out in the rain, take extra cash and protection, and if you’ll be home, have your movie and popcorn ready.
But whatever you do, have a fruitful rainy season!
Watch My Engaging Stories on:
Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
