In Nigeria, approximately 63% of people live in multidimensional poverty. They are not only facing economic struggles, but they are facing educational struggles, housing insecurities, healthcare insecurities, and unemplyment. Since more than half of the Nigerian population are struggling with these problems, it is easier for traffickers to recruit these people in exchange for money.

Poverty Creates Low-Level Roles in the Trade

In ivory trafficking, poverty is usually seen in the lower levels of the supply chain. These roles include drivers, loaders, couriers, warehouse guards, lookouts local transporters, and people paid to move or hide goods.

This is important because the person physically carrying ivory is not always the person controlling the trade. Poverty makes it easier for organized networks to find people willing to take risks, but the money and power usually remain with higher-level traffickers. 

Poverty and Risk Are Not Shared Equally

The poorest people often face the greatest risk and receive the smallest reward. They are easier to identify, arrest, and replace. A driver or courier may be caught with the ivory, while the person who financed the shipment, arranged the buyer, bribed officials, or controlled the export paperwork remains harder to reach.

Trafficking networks use poverty as a tool because people with fewer choices are easier to recruit, underpay, threaten, or abandon.

People living in poverty need opportnity and support.

When communities near wildlife areas lack jobs, schools, roads, healthcare, or government support, protecting wildlife may feel less urgent than daily survival. Elephants' conservation may be difficult if the community is not benefitting from conservation and financial opportunities. Conservation cannot work if people are left without opportunities. When income is limited and criminal networks offer more opportunities, conservation becomes much harder.