Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has been flown abroad for urgent medical treatment after reportedly suffering a stroke, SaharaReporters has learnt.
A top government source, who confirmed the development on Sunday, described Edun’s condition as “very serious”, revealing that he 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 disclosed, adding that the minister suffered severe paralysis as a result of the stroke.
The source further revealed that President Bola Tinubu has commenced discreet consultations to identify a possible replacement for Edun following his health setback.
“President Bola Tinubu is looking for a replacement urgently,” the insider stated. “The paralysis is severe. May God guide us all. This running after dollars is another matter.”
According to the source, Edun’s deteriorating health may be linked to extreme exhaustion and stress from his demanding schedule, combined with poor lifestyle habits. Senior government officials, it was noted, often work long hours with little rest, irregular meals, and minimal sleep, frequently staying up until the early hours of the morning before resuming official duties after just a few hours.
Security sources, including contacts within the Department of State Services (DSS), also reportedly confirmed Edun’s condition, describing him as “extremely ill.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency on Sunday confirmed Edun’s indisposition, announcing that Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), will now lead the country’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 signed 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 as President Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday, October 12, for Rome, Italy, to attend the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-Level Meeting, focusing on the security crisis in West Africa.
The Aqaba Process, launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015 and co-chaired by Jordan and the Italian Government, seeks to address the complex security challenges facing West Africa, including terrorism, maritime piracy, and the expanding nexus between organized crime and insurgency.
Edun, who was appointed as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on August 21, 2023, has been a close ally of President Tinubu since their days in Lagos State, where he served as Commissioner for Finance from 1999 to 2004.
He has since played a central role in Tinubu’s economic team, overseeing fiscal policy, budget reforms, and economic coordination. His sudden health crisis, sources say, could significantly impact the administration’s ongoing fiscal reforms and budget planning.
Despite his ill health, Edun was reportedly active in official duties as recently as last Thursday, when he participated in budget discussions with the Senate.
As of press time, the Presidency has not issued an official statement on Edun’s reported stroke, but sources indicate that consultations for a potential successor are already underway amid concerns about the continuity of Nigeria’s economic management.
