Vandeikya is a local government area in Benue State Nigeria. The capital is Vandeikya town. Vandeikya LGA was carved out of Gboko Local Government Council in 1976. The indigenous community is the Kunav people who speak Tiv language. The Vandeikya people are a hospitable group and are predominantly Christians with a few traditionalists. The LGA is endowed with mineral deposits such as barites, kaoline and iron ores. Being principally farmers, the major commercial engagements of the people in the area revolve around agricultural products. Presently, there are no major industries in the area; however there are many small scale cottage industries like rice milling, block making and furniture works and others. The settlement pattern is dispersed with thatched round houses.

Geography

Vandeikya Local Government Council is located between latitude 7°5' and 7°15' north of the Equator and Longitude 9° and 9°6' east of Greenwich. Vandeikya is in the South Eastern part of Benue State and shares boundaries with Obudu and Bekwara in Cross River State to the East, Ushongo to the North and Konshisha Local Government Area to the West. Vandeikya Local Government area is dominated by undulating terrain with much of the area being below 183 m (600 ft) above the sea level. Surface drainage is generally good with almost all the rivers being seasonal, notably river Aya and river Be.

Climate

The climate is tropical sub humid with the mean annual rainfall of between 1,200 and 2,000 mm (47" and 79"). The vandeikya climate is one of the friendliest in the state. It gets colder around mbaduku district and mbayongo district because of their proximity to Obudu mountains. The hot seasons at Vandeikya lasts for approximately 2.2 months, which are from January 30 to April 6, with an average daily high temperature above 31.7°C. The hottest month of the year is March, with an average high of 31.7°C and low of 22.8°C. The cool season lasts for 3.9 months, from June 21 to October 18, with an average daily high temperature below 28.3°C. The coldest month of the year is December, with an average low of 18.9°C and high of 29.4°C. Clouds In Vandeikya, the cloudiest month of the year is May. On average, the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy 86% of the time. The cloudier part of the year begins around February 26 and lasts for 8.6 months, and ends around November 15. The clearer part of the year starts from November 15 and lasts for 3.4 months, and ends around February 26. December is the clearest month of the year. The sky is on the average 46% most of the time clear. Precipitation and rainfall The wetter season starts from March 25th to November 4th and lasts for 7.3 months. The month with the most wet days is September, with an average of 25.4 days of precipitation. The drier season lasts 4.7 months, from November 4 to March 25. The month with the fewest wet days is January, with an average of 0.6 days of precipitation The most common form of precipitation throughout the year is rain alone, with a peak probability of 86% on September 30. The rainy season of the year can last for 9.4 months, from February 16 to November 29. Sunlight The longest day of the year is June 20, with 12 hours, 31 minutes of daylight. The earliest sunrise is at 6:06 AM around May 24, and the latest sunrise is 36 minutes later at 6:42 AM from February 1. The earliest sunset is at 6:02 PM from November 12, and the latest sunset is 41 minutes later at 6:44 PM from July 15. Daylight saving time (DST) is not observed.

Council wards

Vandeikya is divided into Tyev and Kyan state constituencies with a total of 12 council wards which are;

Districts

Vandeikya is divided majorly into 8 Districts/Areas as follows;

Towns and villages

Mbakaange district Vandeikya town, Ankar, Tse - sho, Uganden, Aginde Ningev district Agirgba, Bako, Korinya, Nor-Gemaityo Mbagbera district Achwa, Adobi, Ahile Jime, Branch Atser, Gorkem, Gube, Jape, Mfor, Naa, Tse-Isua Mbaduku district Tsar, Abwa, Agbile, Betse, Chenge, Dagba, Gbe, Gbegba, Hembe, Ikpoikpo, Shan, Tile. Mbayongo Adamgbe, Agera, Agidi- Mbakena, Guda, Mbayongo, Shangbum, Tse-Atuul, Tse-Wande, Tyemimongo Ute District Agu, Ako Abwa, Akofate, Anza Tokuyo, Bako, Koti-Yough, Kpamor, Kyoosu Ugo, Mbaakon, Pev, Sambe, Sati, Taatihi, Timbir, Tse-Dabo, Tse Kase Nor, Tse Kpum, Tse Mker. Tsambe District Adeiyongo, Ager, Atayo, Dav, Ifan, Kaamem, Lijam Mue, Nyaro, Tsambe, Tse-Anshungu, Tse-Nduul, Yaaya Mbara district Abaki, Alagh-Ngulum, Alakali, Anonog, Bako, Gbagbongom, Igbee, Ihugh, Iyenge, Kiishi, Labe, Mandun, Mbaakon, Mede, Moji, Ndete, Tor-tiv , Tse-Amough, Tse-Gedege, Tse-Ji, Uka.

Economy

Agriculture

Agriculture is the mainstay of the people; with arable land for sheep, goats and cattle rearing. Over 80% of the population are directly engaged in the peasant farming of virtually all major food crops. Vandeikya and Ihugh markets are the national hubs for Rice, sweet potatoes, sorghum, citrus, cassava, bananas, spices, tomatoes, palm oil and palm products, pears, ive, kola nuts, akpu, garri, palm wine etc Ningev sheep and goat grazing farms owned by the Federal government of Nigeria.

Markets

Ihugh and Agbo markets are the major markets in Vandeikya. Other markets are Tsar, Koti-Yough, Gbem, Dagba, Betse, Agidi Mbakena, Anhyula tswar, Agu, Sambo, Pev, Taatihi, Adeiyongo, Tor Tiv, Mede, Anongo and Ugba. Upcoming market Our Lady of Perpetual Help Ultra-Modern Market in Vandeikya

Investment potentials

There is great potential for starch, palm wine bottling, glucose, vegetable oil production, fruit juice production, mining and processing, education real estate.

Road network

Trunk ‘A’ federal highway. This is the major road that connects the major parts of the North East with the South South. The road links Cross River State through Ogoja with other Northern states like Taraba State, Adamawa State, Yobe State and Borno State There is also a federal highway that connects other towns and markets within like Obudu, Tsar-Mbaduku, Vandeikya town, Ihugh, Lessel, Tse - Agberagba, Gboko, Katsina-Ala, Zaki biam etc.

Health care

General hospital owned by the Benue State government missionary hospital little private clinics.

Notable people

Politicians and government

Entrepreneurs and technocrats

Military and law enforcement

Entertainment and sports

Cultural icons

Education