Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has temporarily stepped away from official duties to receive medical care in the United Kingdom.
Sources close to his family confirmed that the minister, who had been feeling unwell in recent days, left Nigeria earlier in the week after doctors advised further evaluation overseas.
Before his trip, Mr Edun was reportedly recuperating at his Abuja home under local medical supervision.
However, his condition prompted a decision for advanced treatment abroad. He is believed to have travelled quietly to London on Monday night after connecting through Lagos.
The development comes as the finance chief continues to play a central role in the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reform drive, which includes stabilising the naira and cushioning the effects of subsidy removal.
Presidency says no cause for alarm
Presidential officials have urged the public to disregard rumours suggesting that the minister’s health situation is critical or that he might be replaced.
According to a senior aide, Edun remains in communication with the President and his colleagues despite his short absence.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the 69-year-old minister is “recovering and in good spirits,” adding that the government is not considering any change in leadership at the finance ministry.
He further emphasised that Edun’s temporary leave will not affect the nation’s economic planning.
Meanwhile, Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso will represent Nigeria at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington, a role originally scheduled for Edun.
The Presidency described the arrangement as “a standard substitution,” ensuring Nigeria’s participation remains uninterrupted.
A key voice in Tinubu’s economic agenda
Since joining President Tinubu’s cabinet in August 2023, Wale Edun has been one of the strongest pillars of the administration’s financial policy direction.
His influence spans across currency reforms, revenue management, and fiscal discipline, policies that have shaped national conversations on Nigeria’s economy.
Edun’s previous experience as Lagos State Commissioner for Finance between 1999 and 2004, as well as his career in investment banking, positioned him as a trusted hand within the President’s inner economic circle.
His leadership has been instrumental in the ongoing efforts to attract investors and strengthen the country’s financial system.
Officials from the Ministry of Finance maintain that all critical functions of the ministry are running smoothly in his absence, with senior directors overseeing day-to-day operations until his return.