The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has travelled to the United Kingdom to seek medical attention, multiple sources close to the development confirmed on Tuesday morning.
Reports gathered that Edun had been flown abroad for urgent treatment following a serious illness, with a top government source describing his condition as “very serious.”
The source confirmed on Tuesday that the decision had now been made, saying, “It’s true, he has left already.”
Edun left Abuja for Lagos on Monday night via a commercial flight.
He later departed for London aboard a British Airways flight on the same night.
Until his departure, Presidency officials who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday had maintained that Edun was recuperating at his Abuja residence under the care of Nigerian doctors.
The sources said the minister had taken ill in recent days but dismissed earlier rumours that he had suffered a stroke or was incapacitated.
One senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authorisation to speak to the press on the matter, said that Edun’s condition was being monitored closely.
“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 on Sunday evening.
The official, however, added that doctors might recommend foreign medical care if necessary, a decision that has now been made.
Another aide familiar with the matter confirmed that Edun’s medical situation had prompted closer attention from the President but stressed that “there are no plans to replace him.”
On Sunday, the Presidency acknowledged that Edun was ill and indisposed. In a statement, Onanuga announced that Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, would lead Nigeria’s delegation to the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings, beginning Monday, October 13, in Edun’s stead.
“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 said on Sunday.
The Presidency had earlier debunked speculation that President Bola Tinubu was considering a replacement for the finance minister.
However, it confirmed that the minister would miss this year’s World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C.
According to a statement by Onanuga, the Central Bank Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, would instead lead Nigeria’s delegation to the global finance meetings, which begin today, Tuesday, October 14.
Edun was appointed by President Tinubu as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on August 21, 2023. Their professional relationship dates back to Tinubu’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State, where Edun served as Commissioner for Finance from 1999 to 2004.
He oversee the removal of petrol subsidies, unification of foreign exchange rates, and fiscal measures aimed at stabilising the naira and curbing inflation.
Despite health concerns, he was involved in budget discussions with the Senate last Thursday.
At the time of this report, the Ministry of Finance had yet to issue an official statement on the minister’s whereabouts.