Analysis of service centres

The study analyses 47 service centres in Vandeikya LGA of Benue State, Nigeria, with the view to identifying number and types of functions offered in each centre, and to order them into a hierarchy according to their functions and examine the functionality of the hierarchy as well as evaluate the spatial pattern of the centres. Information on the stated objectives was obtained by observation using a check–list of functions and archives. The data collected was analysed using Functional Indices (Locational or Centrality Coefficients) and Cluster Analysis. The result of functional indices shows that Vandeikya Township has the highest centrality index (4429.497) with 101 functional types and is regarded as the dominant service centre in the study area. It exerts influence over the rest of the centres (functionally dependent) and acts as node for centripetal forces for them to converge in it for most of their higher order functional needs. The result of Cluster Analysis grouped the 47 service centres into a hierarchy of five orders (first, second, third, fourth and fifth orders) with Vandeikya Township on top of the hierarchy as the first order centre.