Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has reportedly been flown abroad for urgent medical treatment after suffering a stroke, government sources confirmed on Sunday.
According to SaharaReporters, a top government insider described Edun’s condition as “very serious,” revealing that the minister has suffered significant paralysis and is currently receiving intensive medical attention overseas.
“It’s very serious. He may survive, but he can’t get back to work again,” the source said, noting that President Bola Tinubu has already begun quiet consultations to identify a possible replacement for the ailing minister.
The source linked Edun’s health crisis to exhaustion and stress arising from the enormous demands of his office, adding that many senior officials in the administration operate under intense pressure, with irregular sleep and meal schedules.
“Top government functionaries are under enormous strain — long hours, sleepless nights, and relentless pressure,” the source disclosed. “It’s taking a toll on their health.”
Security sources reportedly confirmed Edun’s condition, with intelligence operatives describing him as “extremely ill.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency on Sunday confirmed that Edun was “indisposed,” announcing that Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, will now lead Nigeria’s delegation to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in Washington D.C., which open on Monday, October 13.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, “Cardoso, as the alternate Governor, replaces the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who is indisposed.”
The development comes at a sensitive time for the Tinubu administration, as the country grapples with foreign exchange instability, rising inflation, and slowing economic growth.
President Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday for Rome, Italy, where he is scheduled to participate in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting, a high-level counterterrorism forum jointly convened by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Italian government.
The summit, which opens on October 14, will focus on security challenges in West Africa, including the spread of terrorist networks, cross-border crime, and maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
Mr. Edun, appointed Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy in August 2023, is one of President Tinubu’s long-time associates, having served as Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State between 1999 and 2004 during Tinubu’s tenure as governor.
He has been central to the administration’s fiscal reforms, including the unification of Nigeria’s foreign exchange windows, subsidy reforms, and budget planning.
Edun was last seen in public at the National Assembly on Thursday, where he participated in discussions on the 2026 budget framework. His sudden illness is expected to impact ongoing fiscal policy coordination and budget preparations.
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