By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Mr. Wale Edun, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, has reportedly travelled to the United Kingdom to undergo medical treatment following an undisclosed illness.
Sources confirmed that the minister left Abuja for Lagos on Monday night before boarding a British Airways flight to London later in the evening. His departure comes days after reports emerged that he had been battling health challenges that prevented him from attending the ongoing World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C.
Earlier, the Presidency had disclosed that Edun was recuperating in Nigeria and dismissed rumours suggesting that he suffered a stroke. A senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, clarified that while the minister was indeed ill, claims of a severe incapacitation were false.
Despite the development, the Presidency has maintained that there are no immediate plans to replace Edun, stressing that he remains in charge of the Finance Ministry and is expected to resume duties once he recovers.
The specific nature of the minister’s illness has not been made public, and officials have yet to issue any formal statement on his current condition or expected return date. His absence, however, has sparked renewed debate over the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the recurring trend of public officials seeking medical attention abroad.
Edun, a former investment banker and long-time associate of President Tinubu, has been central to the administration’s fiscal reform agenda, including efforts to stabilise the naira, boost investor confidence, and implement the government’s medium-term economic plan.
