We have investigated large single crystals of YbNi$_4$P$_2$ that were grown from a levitating melt by the Czochralski method. The new samples facilitate the determination of the absolute values of the electrical resistivity. Phase pure polycrystalline samples of the non-magnetic reference LuNi$_4$P$_2$ were prepared and the electrical resistivity was measured. Furthermore we have grown a single crystal of the As substituted compound YbNi$_4$(P$_{1-{it x}}$As$_{it x}$)$_2$, $x = 0.2$ and investigated the homogenity of the As distribution.