The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has been flown to the United Kingdom for medical treatment after falling ill in recent days.
The development was confirmed on Tuesday by sources close to the Presidency.
Edun reportedly left Abuja for Lagos on Monday night and later boarded a British Airways flight to London.
Before his departure, he had been receiving care from doctors at his Abuja residence, where officials initially stated that his condition was being managed locally.
The minister’s illness had sparked public concern, with earlier rumours suggesting he was seriously incapacitated, but insiders clarified that his condition was not as severe as speculated.
Presidency sources said that while the ailment required attention, it did not involve a stroke.
The Presidency has also dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu is planning to replace the finance minister.
However, Edun will not be attending the ongoing World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., where Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso is leading Nigeria’s delegation.
Edun, 69, has been a central figure in the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms since his appointment in August 2023.
He has overseen major policy shifts such as petrol subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, and fiscal measures to stabilise the naira and control inflation.
As of the time of this report, the Ministry of Finance has not released an official statement regarding the minister’s health or his current location.
