Section 20: Major disaster and relief of distress in States

(1) If any major disaster occurs anywhere within the Federation outside of Lagos and if either the fire authority or the Commissioner of Police for the State in which said major disaster has occurred so requests, the Fire Commissioner may, in his discretion, provide assistance-
(a) by utilising or lending, with or without compensation therefore, to the State Government or fire authority, the equipment, supplies, facilities, personnel and other resources of the Fire Service;
(b) by performing on public or private lands protective and other work essential for the preservation of life and property and the alleviation of suffering.
(2) The Government of the Federation shall not be liable for any claim based upon the Fire Service's exercise or performance of any function or duty in carrying out the provisions of this section.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "major disaster" means any flood, fire, hurricane, earthquake, storm or other catastrophe in any part of the Federation which in the determination of the local fire authority or of the Commissioner of Police for the State is, or threatens to be, of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant assistance by the Fire Service to supplement the efforts and available resources of the fire authority and local fire-fighting services in alleviating the damage, hardship and suffering caused thereby.