The Nigerian Presidency has officially confirmed that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, is currently unwell and unable to perform his official duties.
This confirmation comes after an earlier SaharaReporters exclusive revealing that the minister was critically ill following a stroke that left him partially paralyzed.
A senior government source on Sunday described Edun’s condition as “very serious,” though he is said to be receiving intensive medical care. “It’s a serious case. He might survive, but he’s unlikely to return to work,” the source disclosed, noting that President Bola Tinubu has already begun discreet consultations to find a possible replacement.
In a statement issued Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency announced that Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, will represent Nigeria at the upcoming World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in Washington D.C., starting Monday, October 13.
According to the statement, Cardoso, who serves as Nigeria’s alternate governor at the IMF and World Bank, will lead the delegation in place of the indisposed finance minister. The Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, will also be part of the delegation.
The development has heightened concerns within government circles, especially as Edun plays a key role in steering Nigeria’s fiscal policy and economic reforms under the Tinubu administration. His sudden health challenge is feared to slow down ongoing economic planning and budgetary coordination.
Sources linked the minister’s illness to extreme stress, exhaustion, and irregular work habits common among senior officials who reportedly operate with little rest, poor nutrition, and long working hours.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu on Sunday departed Abuja for Rome, Italy, to attend the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting, which focuses on tackling security challenges across West Africa.
The Aqaba Process—launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan and co-chaired by Italy—brings together African leaders, intelligence chiefs, and international organizations to address terrorism, organized crime, and maritime insecurity in the region.
Wale Edun, a long-time ally of President Tinubu, was appointed Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on August 21, 2023. He previously served as Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State during Tinubu’s tenure as governor from 1999 to 2004.
His absence, observers say, could significantly affect Nigeria’s fiscal direction amid mounting economic and currency challenges.
