The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has reportedly left Nigeria for the United Kingdom to receive medical attention after battling a health challenge in recent days.
According to multiple credible sources close to the matter, the minister departed Abuja for Lagos on Monday night before connecting to a British Airways flight bound for London later that same evening.
A reliable insider who confirmed the development disclosed that the minister’s departure had been anticipated after initial consultations with local doctors. “It’s true, he has left already,” the source said.
Medical Condition Under Close Watch
Before his trip, officials at the Presidential Villa maintained that Mr. Edun was recuperating at his Abuja residence under medical supervision. Sources clarified that while the minister had indeed taken ill, earlier claims suggesting a stroke or total incapacitation were untrue.
One senior government official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, stated that Mr. Edun’s condition had been “a bit serious” but manageable.
“Yes, he’s indisposed. He’s sick, which is a bit serious, but it’s not a stroke. As I’m talking to you, he’s in his house. He’s not been flown anywhere,” the source had said earlier this week.
However, after further medical evaluation, doctors reportedly advised that he should travel abroad for comprehensive treatment — a recommendation that was approved and has now been carried out.
Presidency Reacts to Health Concerns
Presidential aides also confirmed that the minister’s health has drawn close attention from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, though they emphasized that there are “no plans to replace him.”
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said Mr. Edun had initially been receiving treatment in Nigeria before his trip abroad.
“Yes, he’s indisposed. Wale Edun is about 69 years old. He suddenly fell ill. As we are talking, he is in Nigeria. He is recuperating. He’s around,” Onanuga had stated earlier on Sunday.
Okay News reports that the Presidency had previously dismissed rumors claiming the finance minister would be replaced due to ill health.
Edun to Miss IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings
While Mr. Edun is away, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 2025 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington, D.C. The global financial meetings began on Tuesday, October 14.
In a statement signed by Mr. Onanuga, the Presidency confirmed that Edun would be absent due to health reasons, describing his trip as a “temporary medical visit.”
Profile: A Key Player in Tinubu’s Economic Reforms
Since his appointment on August 28, 2023, Wale Edun has played a vital role in the Tinubu administration’s economic reform drive. He has overseen key policy shifts, including the removal of petrol subsidies, the unification of foreign exchange rates, and various fiscal measures aimed at stabilizing the naira and curbing inflation.
Edun previously served as Lagos State Commissioner for Finance between 1999 and 2004 under then-Governor Bola Tinubu. He later co-founded Denham Management Limited, an investment banking firm.
As of the time of filing this report, the Ministry of Finance has yet to issue an official statement on the minister’s current condition or when he is expected to return to Nigeria.
