Nigeria's finance minister Wale Edun flown to the UK for medical treatment after he takes ill

NIGERIA'S finance minister Wale Edun has been flown to London to receive medical treatment after he recently took ill and local doctors told him that he needed to seek specialist care abroad.

Mr Edun, 69, has been out of the public view for a few weeks now, leading to speculation that he suffered from a stroke. However, a government spokesman denied this, saying his condition was not that bad, although he did confirm that the minister was unwell and receiving treatment from doctors.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, said: “Yes, he’s indisposed. Wale Edun is 69 years old. He suddenly fell ill."

It has been reported that President Bola Tinubu was considering replacing the minister after reports of his ill health emerged late last week. Already, the presidency has confirmed that Mr Edun would not be attending this year’s World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings in Washington, DC, stating that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, would lead Nigeria’s delegation in his stead.

These meetings, which bring together finance ministers, central bankers and economic experts from around the world, began on Monday, October 14. Appointed on August 28, 2023 as Nigeria's finance minister and coordinating minister of the economy, Mr Edun has been at the forefront of President Tinubu’s fiscal reform agenda, including efforts to stabilise the naira, reduce inflation and attract foreign investment.

Before his appointment, he served as Lagos State commissioner for finance in the then Governor Tinubu’s administration between 1999 and 2004. Yesterday night, Mr Edun left Abuja for Lagos aboard a commercial flight after doctors attending to him in Nigeria advised that he should seek specialist care abroad.